HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020, September 02- Finance Committee PacketMEETING NOTICE
TOWN OF BREWSTER
________FINANCE COMMITTEE _ _______
Location: Remote Participation Only
Date: September 2, 2020
Time: 4:00 PM
Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law and his
March 15 and March 23, 2020 Orders imposing strict limits on the number of people that may gather in one place, this
meeting will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and the general
guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend
this meeting may be found on the Town’s website at www.brewster-ma.gov. For this meeting, members of the public
who wish to listen to the audio broadcast may do so via the Town of Brewster website at http://livestream.brewster-
ma.gov or on Channel 18. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be
made to ensure the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means. The Town has
established specific email addresses for each board and committee that will be meeting remotely so that residents can
send their comments in writing either before or during the meeting. In the event we are unable to live broadcast these
meetings, despite best efforts, we will post on the Town website an audio recording, transcript, or other comprehensive
record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting at http://tv.brewster-ma.gov. To submit public comment or
questions to the Finance Committee prior to or during the meeting please email to fincommeeting@brewster-ma.gov.
AGENDA
1. Call Meeting to Order
2. TA/FD Update
3. Discuss 9/12 Annual Town Meeting
4. Discuss and Vote all Annual Town Meeting Articles
5. NRHS Building Project Update, Sub-Committee Report.
6. Review of Finance Report to Town Meeting
7. Review of Minutes from 7/15/20 & 8/5/20
8. Liaison Reports & Future Meeting Requests.
9. Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate
10. Adjournment
Signed: _________________________________
Name (print): ____Beth Devine
Date Posted: ___________________________
September 2020 1
Town of Brewster
SPECIAL & ANNUAL
TOWN MEETING WARRANT
for
SEPTEMBER 12, 2020
At
10:00 AM
STONY BROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
384 UNDERPASS ROAD
Please bring this copy of the warrant to Town Meeting
Large print copies of the warrant are available at the Brewster Town Offices
September 2020 2
TOWN OF BREWSTER
SPECIAL & ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
SEPTEMBER 12, 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A INDEX 2
B INFORMATION & MODERATOR’S
STATEMENT FOR VOTERS
4
C CONSENT CALENDAR – ROUTINE ARTICLES
FOR APPROVAL
10
D CONSENT CALENDAR – ARTICLES TO REFER
TO COMMITTEE
11
E FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT 12
F TAX RATE INFORMATION 16
G CAPITAL PROJECTS REPORT 17
H HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES REPORT 18
I NOVEMBER 3, 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
INFORMATION
21
J 2020 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
ARTICLES
22
ARTICLE DESCRIPTION SPONSOR PAGE
1 Unpaid Bills Board of Selectmen 22
2 Rescind Debt Authorization Board of Selectmen 23
3 Water Department Enterprise Fund Board of Selectmen 24
4 Home Rule Petition Board of Selectmen 25
5 Property Valuation Service Board of Assessors 25
K 2020 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
ARTICLES
27
1 Cape Cod Regional Technical High School
Operating Budget
Cape Cod Technical
School Committee
27
2 Elementary Schools Operating Budget Elementary School
Committee
28
3 Nauset Regional Schools Operating Budget Nauset Regional School
Committee
28
4 Assessment Formula for Nauset Regional
Schools
Nauset Regional School
Committee
29
5 Town Operating Budget Board of Selectmen 30
6 Golf Department Reserve Fund Board of Selectmen 33
7 Water Department Enterprise Fund Board of Selectmen 33
September 2020 3
8 Community Preservation Act Funding Community
Preservation
Committee
34
9 Land Acquisition/Community Preservation
Act
Community
Preservation
Committee
39
10 Capital and Special Projects Expenditures Board of Selectmen 41
11 Special Revenue Fund/Cable Franchise Fee Board of Selectmen 49
12 Acceptance of Grants and Gifts Board of Selectmen 50
13 Repair & Resurface Town Roads/Chapter 90
Funds Board of Selectmen
50
14 General Stabilization Fund Board of Selectmen 51
15 Fire Union Collective Bargaining Agreement Board of Selectmen 51
16 Police Union Collective Bargaining Agreement Board of Selectmen 52
17 SEIU Collective Bargaining Agreement Board of Selectmen 52
18 OPEIU Collective Bargaining Agreement Board of Selectmen 53
19 Ladies Library Collective Bargaining
Agreement
Board of Selectmen 53
20 Non-Union Personnel Wage Funding Board of Selectmen 54
21 Town Code Amendment/Placement of
Articles
Board of Selectmen 54
22 Citizen Petition/Commercial Single-Use Plastic
Water Bottle Ban
Citizen Group 55
23 Citizen Petition/5 Year Cost Estimate to
Operate Dog Park
Citizen Group 56
24 Citizen Petition/Climate Emergency and Net
Zero Declaration
Citizen Group 58
25 Citizen Petition/Private Road Betterment Citizen Group 59
26 Town Code Amendment/Private Road
Betterment
Board of Selectmen 60
L TOWN MODERATOR’S RULES 65
M GLOSSARY OF FINANCIAL TERMS 67
September 2020 4
2020 BREWSTER TOWN MEETING INFORMATION
We’ve changed Town Meeting to hold it as safely as possible in the pandemic.
DATE,
TIME &
PLACE
DATE & TIME: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 at 10AM
CHECK-IN: Starts at 9AM
LOCATION: Stonybrook School Ball Field (“Whitecaps Field”), 384 Underpass Rd.
RAIN DATE: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020 at 1PM
HEALTH &
SAFETY
MASKS: A mask/face covering must be worn at all times (unless medically unable)..
SOCIAL DISTANCE: Maintain 6 feet from others (except those in your household).
MICROPHONES: Sanitized between speakers; keep mask on when speaking.
TENT: A tent will offer protection from the sun/weather.
SEATING: Seats will be in pairs and singles; household members may sit together.
HAND SANITIZER: Sanitizer stations will be available; voters may bring their own.
AMENITIES
PARKING: Use school and tennis parking areas.
BATHROOMS: Port-a-potties will be available on the field.
FOOD/DRINKS: Not available.
TRANSPORTATION: Not available.
CHILD CARE: Not available; playground & basketball area will be closed.
WHAT TO
BRING
Town Warrant booklet; copies will be available at Town Meeting.
Hand sanitizer, insect repellant, sunscreen, sunglasses & water bottle if desired.
Patience.
SPECIAL
SERVICES
HANDICAPPED PARKING: Use lot at west end of school near check-in point.
HANDICAPPED BATHROOMS: Accessible port-a-potties will be available on the field.
HEARING ASSISTANCE: Transcription will be available.
MOBILITY IMPAIRED SEATING: Available.
MOBILITY IMPAIRED CHECK-IN: Please proceed to beginning of check-in line.
UNABLE TO WEAR A MASK? Seating with greater social distance will be available.
PLEASE CALL: If possible, call the Town Administrator’s office before the
meeting to let us know of your needs so we can assist you.
Phone: (508) 896-3701 ext. 1100.
WHAT NOT
TO DO
Please don’t bring your own chair or food (unless medically required).
Please don’t gather in groups on the field before or after the meeting.
ENTRY,
MEETING,
& EXIT
ENTRY: Form a socially-distanced line at entry near playground (west of school).
CHECK-IN: When invited by greeter, approach check-in station to receive voter ticket.
ENTER FIELD: Proceed to single field entrance as directed, maintaining social distance.
SEATING: A greeter will guide you to a seat.
MICROPHONES: Use closest stationary microphone to speak or raise hand for mobile “mike.”
Socially distance if there is a line at the microphone.
DEPARTURE: Voters will leave one section at a time; please wait for guidance.
CHANGES TO
IMPROVE
SAFETY
QUORUM: The Select Board reduced quorum to 20.
VOTING: All votes will be cast by raising voter ticket; there will be no voice votes.
DEBATE: The Moderator will encourage limiting debate to less than normal (2 minutes
if presenting and 1.5 minutes if speaking for or against).
FINANCE REPORT: Finance Committee report is printed in the Warrant and will not be presented.
MOTION COPIES: Only proposed amendments need to be handed to the Moderator.
September 2020 5
September 20206
Town Moderator Information for Brewster Voters
Brewster Voters:
Brewster Town Meeting is being held under unusual circumstances and will be
held outside for our safety. We want to reduce the chance of infectious disease
transmission, so it is important we conduct the Town’s business as efficiently as
possible.
Given these conditions, and the need to balance public health concerns with the
need to carry out the Town’s business, we are changing some meeting procedures. To
prepare voters in advance and to minimize the length of my opening remarks, I’m
providing information here that will be helpful to everyone who plans to attend.
1. Disclosures: I have filed disclosures with the Town Clerk about organizations I have
had relationships with.
2. Check-in: Will start at 9am. Please form a socially-distanced single line at the
check-in area at the west side of Stony Brook School. A greeter will direct you to a
check-in station. If you have a mobility issue, please move to the beginning of the
check-in line.
3. Town Warrants: Copies of the Town Warrant will be available; voters are invited to
bring their own copy.
4. Seating: Seats will be set up in singles and pairs, and will be socially distanced.
Greeters will guide you to a seat. Members of the same household may take seats
together.
5. CERT: Members of the regional Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
will provide direction and assistance during Town Meeting. They will be wearing
visible attire. For safety, please follow their instructions.
PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND TOWN MEETING IF YOU MAY HAVE COVID,
INCLUDING IF YOU HAVE:
Any COVID symptoms (e.g., fever, chills, cough, loss of appetite or sense of smell,
and fatigue). See www.CDC.gov for more information.
Had contact in the previous 2 weeks with a person diagnosed with COVID.
Traveled outside Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New York or Maine in the
previous 2 weeks.
September 2020 7
6. Quorum: The Select Board voted to reduce quorum to 20.
7. Town Officials Participating in Town Meeting: The following will be in attendance:
Select Board: Chair Mary Chaffee, Ben deRuyter, Cynthia Bingham, David
Whitney, Ned Chatelain
Town Administrator: Peter Lombardi
Assistant Town Administrators: Susan Broderick, Donna Kalinick
Town Clerk: Colette Williams
Finance Committee: Chair Pete Dahl, Frank Bridges, William Meehan, Honey
Pivirotto, Robert Young, Larissa Haynes, Robert Tobias, and Andrew Evans.
Finance Director: Mimi Bernardo
Town Counsel: Lauren Goldberg and Mark Reich of KP Law
Constable: Roland Bassett, Jr.
8. Finance Committee Report: The Finance Committee report appears in the Warrant
and will not be provided as a presentation at Town Meeting.
9. Meeting Rules of Order
Brewster uses “Town Meeting Time: A Handbook of Parliamentary Law” as
well as local practice and tradition.
Please be respectful and courteous to others.
All questions or comments should be directed only to the Moderator.
10. Time Clock. Because of the unusual circumstances of this meeting, and the need to
reduce the time we are together, I will encourage briefer debate than normal. Under
our bylaw, presenters may speak for 5 minutes and others for 3 minutes. For this
meeting, I will recommend:
Presenters of a warrant article may speak for 2 minutes.
Others may use 1.5 minutes to speak for or against.
11. Voting
All voting will be done by a show of hands using voter tickets.
There will be no voice votes.
The Moderator will evaluate the show of hands and announce the result.
Voters may challenge the Moderator’s result; if more than 7 request a count,
one will be done.
12. Consent Calendars. To expedite action, voters will act on two consent calendars:
Consent Calendar 1: A group of routine and/or non-controversial items to be
voted as a group.
Consent Calendar 2: A group of non-essential articles to be referred to
committee (and handled at a future meeting).
September 2020 8
13. Microphones
Stationary microphones will be set up at the front of each aisle in the voter
seating area.
Mobile microphones will be available if you wish to speak from your seating
area; raise your hand to alert a microphone manager.
Please remain masked when speaking at a microphone and avoid handling
the microphones. An assistant can adjust the microphone for you.
If there is a line at the microphone, please stay 6 feet from others including
seated voters. Flags in the ground will mark 6-foot intervals.
The microphones will be sanitized between speakers.
State your name and address when you speak.
14. Lottery system: For Annual Town Meeting, we will continue to use a lottery system
to determine the order that certain articles are considered.
15. Motions
Amendments:
o If a minor amendment is proposed, the Moderator may accept it
verbally.
o If a longer amendment is offered, provide it in writing to the Town Clerk
or her staff.
If you are unclear at any time about an action, raise your voter ticket to be
recognized and state, “Point of order.”
16. Departure:
Please remain seated when we adjourn.
Voters will be dismissed one section at a time for safety and will depart from
right field.
Please maintain social distance and keep your mask on until you are in your
vehicle.
Please do not gather in groups.
17. Services
If you need handicapped parking, special seating, or any other type of
assistance, please contact the Town Administrator’s office (508-896-3701 ext.
1100) before Town Meeting. We want to make sure we have the services you
may require.
Port-a-potties will be available on the baseball field; some will be accessible.
Space will be available for voters using wheelchairs.
Handicapped parking will be available near the check-in point at the
playground (at the west end of the Stony Brook School).
Those with impaired mobility should move to the front of the check-in line.
We regret that we cannot offer food and beverages, childcare, or
transportation assistance at this meeting.
There will be no access to Stony Brook School during Town Meeting.
September 2020 9
18. Handouts/Flyers: A designated area will be available for anyone wishing to
distribute materials to voters.
19. Thank you. I appreciate your commitment to conducting the Town’s business and
your attention to efforts that will keep us all safe.
Thank you,
Charles Sumner
Brewster Town Moderator
September 2020 10
CONSENT CALENDAR
ROUNTINE ARTICLES FOR APPROVAL
To expedite Town Meeting and save valuable time for discussion of key issues, the 1994 Fall Yearly
Town Meeting created the "Consent Calendar" to speed passage of articles that appear to raise no
controversy. The purpose of the Consent Calendar is to allow the motions under these articles to
be acted upon as one unit and to be passed by a unanimous vote without debate.
THIS CONSENT CALENDAR WILL BE TAKEN UP AS THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS AT THE ANNUAL
TOWN MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2020.
If you have any questions about these articles, motions or the procedure please call the Town
Administrator’s office at 508-896-3701 before Town Meeting.
At the call of the Consent Calendar, the Moderator will call out the numbers of the articles, one by
one. If any voter has doubt about passing any motion, or wishes an explanation of any subject on
the Consent Calendar, THE VOTER SHOULD STAND AND SAY THE WORD "HOLD" IN A LOUD,
CLEAR, VOICE WHEN THE NUMBER IS CALLED. The Moderator will then inquire as to whether the
request to hold is for a question or for debate. If the purpose of the request was merely to ask a
question, an attempt to obtain a satisfactory answer will be made, and if that occurs, the article will
remain on the Consent Calendar absent a further request to hold. If the purpose of the request was
to hold the article for debate, the article will be removed from the Consent Calendar and restored
to its original place in the warrant, to be brought up, and debated and voted on in the usual manner.
No voter should hesitate to exercise the right to remove matters from the Consent Calendar. It is
the view of the voters as to the need for debate that is significant, not that of the town officials who
put together the Consent Calendar. However, it is hoped that voters will remove articles from the
Consent Calendar only in cases of genuine concern.
After calling of the individual items in the Consent Calendar, the Moderator will ask that all items
remaining be passed as a unit by a unanimous vote. Please review the list of articles proposed for
the Consent Calendar which follows. Complete reports can be found under each article printed
in this warrant.
PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR FOR ROUTINE WARRANT ARTICLES
No. 4 Assessment Formula for Nauset Public Schools
No. 11 Special Revenue Fund/Cable Franchise Fee
No. 12 Acceptance of Grants and Gifts
No. 13 Repair and Resurface Town Roads/Chapter 90 Funds
No. 21 Town Code Amendment/Placement of Articles
September 2020 11
CONSENT CALENDAR
ARTICLES TO REFER TO COMMITTEE
To expedite Town Meeting and save valuable time for discussion of key issues, the 1994 Fall Yearly
Town Meeting created the "Consent Calendar" to speed passage of articles that appear to raise no
controversy. The purpose of the Consent Calendar is to allow the motions under these articles to
be acted upon as one unit and to be passed by a unanimous vote without debate.
THIS CONSENT CALENDAR WILL BE TAKEN UP AS THE SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS AT THE
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2020.
If you have any questions about these articles, motions or the procedure please call the Town
Administrator’s office at 508-896-3701 before Town Meeting.
At the call of the Consent Calendar, the Moderator will call out the numbers of the articles, one
by one. If any voter has doubt about passing any motion, or wishes an explanation of any
subject on the Consent Calendar, THE VOTER SHOULD STAND AND SAY THE WORD "HOLD" IN
A LOUD, CLEAR, VOICE WHEN THE NUMBER IS CALLED. The Moderator will then inquire as to
whether the request to hold is for a question or for debate. If the purpose of the request was
merely to ask a question, an attempt to obtain a satisfactory answer will be made, and if that
occurs, the article will remain on the Consent Calendar absent a further request to hold. If the
purpose of the request was to hold the article for debate, the article will be removed from the
Consent Calendar and restored to its original place in the warrant, to be brought up, and
debated and voted on in the usual manner. No voter should hesitate to exercise the right to
remove matters from the Consent Calendar. It is the view of the voters as to the need for
debate that is significant, not that of the town officials who put together the Consent Calendar.
However, it is hoped that voters will remove articles from the Consent Calendar only in cases of
genuine concern.
After calling of the individual items in the Consent Calendar, the Moderator will ask that all items
remaining be referred to committee as a unit by a unanimous vote. Please review the list of articles
proposed for the Consent Calendar which follows. Complete reports can be found under each
article printed in this warrant.
In light of challenges posed by gatherings in the era of COIVD-19, our hope and intent is that by
limiting the number and types of issues that will be before Town Meeting, we will limit our time
together. With the consent of the petitioners, the articles listed below will be held from
consideration in this Town Meeting. The Select Board has agreed to place these articles on the next
Town Meeting warrant, with no further action required of the petitioners. The Select Board wishes
to thank the petitioners for their thoughtful consideration during these challenging times.
PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR REFERRED TO COMMITTEE WARRANT ARTICLES
No. 23 Citizen Petition/5 Year Cost Estimate to Operate Dog Park
No. 24 Citizen Petition/Climate Emergency and Net Zero Declaration
No. 25 Citizen Petition/Private Road Betterment
No. 26 Town Code Amendment/Private Road Betterment
September 2020 12
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Fiscal Year 2021
I. Introduction
The Finance Committee consists of nine members, appointed by the
Town Moderator, serving staggered three-year terms and is responsible
for making informed recommendations to the voters at Town Meeting. It
also reviews and recommends transfer requests for unforeseen and/or
emergency expenditures from the Reserve Fund. The Finance Committee
met 32 times in Fiscal Year 2020 including six virtual meetings after
March 11 to analyze all departmental and enterprise operating budgets
and make informed recommendations on the articles listed in the
warrant.
Through the difficult times of the current covid pandemic, the Finance
Committee continues to meet remotely to review and discuss
departmental budgets, revenue projections, Town Meeting warrant
articles and any other issues that affect the financial health of the Town
of Brewster.
The Finance Committee also met with the Nauset Regional School
Committee, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and
the Nauset Regional High School Building Committee to evaluate the
Nauset Regional High School Building Project. The Finance Committee
will prepare a separate report on the proposal which will be included in
the spring 2021 ATM Warrant.
The members of the Finance Committee feel privileged to serve the
taxpayers of the Town of Brewster. Our posted meetings are available live
via local channel 18 and through the Town of Brewster website at
www.brewster-ma.gov. We appreciate your review and comments.
II. Town Operating Budget
The Town’s budget, as printed in the warrant, totals $20,504,219. The
Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget is a 3.72% increase over Fiscal Year
2020, exclusive of the transfer to the general stabilization fund. The
Finance Committee has reviewed and approved all departmental and
enterprise budgets for Fiscal Year 2021.
III. School’s Operating Budgets
The operational budget for the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School
has increased by 2.7% over 2020 funding levels. Brewster’s share of the
total assessment declined to 4.7%, reducing the total FY2021 operating
September 2020 13
budget assessment to Brewster by $191,229 to $562,646. Enrollment of
Brewster students declined by 5 in Fiscal Year 2020 to 36 students. The
Finance Committee unanimously supports the 2021 operating budget.
Construction of the new Cape Cod Regional Technical High School
commenced in December 2018 and is expected to conclude in February
2022. Brewster’s share of the initial debt assessment for the new school
construction is $294,741 down 39.7% from last year. The Finance
Committee unanimously supports their budget. As the project moves
forward, interested stakeholders can stay informed by visiting the
website www.capetech.us.
The Brewster Elementary Schools’ operating budget as printed in the
warrant, has increased from $7,777,113 in Fiscal Year 2020 to
$7,971,541 in Fiscal Year 2021 or 2.5%. A reduction in the cost of
school employee fringe benefits limited the total increase to $47,736 or
0.5%. Current enrollment is 471, down 12 students. Finance Committee
members voted unanimously in support of their budget and capital
requests.
The Nauset Regional School District’s operations budget for assessments
has increased by $588,917 or 2.5% to $24,144,549 in Fiscal Year 2021
from $23,555,632 in Fiscal Year 2020, inclusive of Other Post-
Employment Benefits (OPEB) expense which was unchanged at
$400,000. The capital budget increased by $13,310 to $545,666 for FY
2021. The Capital budget was approved by means of a Proposition 2 ½
override ballot question in May 2005 and has received a 2.5% annual
increase since 2014 per approval by the School Committee. The Finance
Committee has reviewed and unanimously supported this budget.
FY’20 Op.
Budget
$23,555,632 46.42% $10,935,110
FY’21 Op.
Budget
$24,690,214 48.04% $ 11,599,042 +$ 663,932
FY’20 Cap.
Budget
$ 532,356 46.42% $ 247,133
FY’21 Cap.
Budget
$ 545,666 48.04% $ 262,138 +$ 15,005
NET IMPACT +$678,937
The Nauset Regional High School building project was slated to be
brought before the four district towns at their annual town meetings and
town elections for votes by the taxpayers between April 27, 2020 and
May 19, 2020, including a debt exclusion ballot question for funding the
bonding (mortgage) on the project. All these votes have been postponed
September 2020 14
due to the present and ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In turn, the high
school building project has been put on hold until the new schedule for
spring town meetings and town elections by the four district towns is
determined and posted. The MSBA Board of Directors granted a second
extension for the contract signings until May 31, 2021. On June 30,
2020, at a joint meeting with the Nauset Regional School Committee, the
Select Board voted to recommend the request for funding approval by the
four member towns of the district be delayed until the spring of 2021. All
interested parties can stay informed by visiting the website,
www.nausetbuildingproject.com.
IV. Warrant Articles
The Finance Committee has reviewed and provided recommendations on
all warrant articles. The Finance Committee weighs the interests of all
the taxpayers, residents and nonresidents, registered voter and non-
registered voter, young families as well as those living on fixed pensions
and/or social security. We have tried to consider the needs of the town
with the impact that these articles will have on the tax rate for all.
V. Town and School District Unfunded Liabilities
Brewster has direct and indirect exposure under three OPEB plans and
three Pension plans. Although these plans remain significantly
underfunded, the Finance Committee participated in a joint meeting with
the Select Board and the actuary in FY 2020, and we are pleased to see
that an effective strategy has been developed to address this important
issue.
VI. Conclusion
The Finance Committee has worked closely with the Select Board and
Town Administration in reviewing all budgets, which included joint
meetings to present and review operating budgets and capital projects.
The Finance Committee would like to acknowledge our Town
Administrator, Finance Director, Assistant Town Administrators and the
many Department Heads and their staff at the Town Offices for their
dedication and assistance in reviewing the Town budgets and articles.
We would also like to sincerely thank Sarah Piebes for her excellent work
in recording all votes and preparing minutes of our meetings and
welcome Beth Devine as the new FINCOM recording secretary.
The Finance Committee would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the
dedication and selfless service provided to the Committee and the Town
of Brewster by Michael Fitzgerald in his fourteen years’ service, including
the last eight as Committee Chair. Mr. Fitzgerald was not reappointed in
September 2020 15
2020 and we will miss his guidance, experience and deep commitment to
the citizens of Brewster.
We offer a special thank you to the voters that attend Town Meeting each
year. It is our pleasure to serve you and the Town of Brewster.
Respectfully submitted,
Harvey (Pete) Dahl, Chairman
Frank Bridges, Vice Chair
William Meehan, Clerk
Honey Pivirotto
Robert Young
Larissa Haynes
Andrew Evans
Robert Tobias
September 2020 16
MUNICIPAL ANNUAL TAX IMPACT
REVENUES ON $445,000 PROPERTY
RAISED (CURRENT MEDIAN VALUE)
$4,121,908,120
$0.01 =$41,219 $4.45
$0.05 =$206,095 $22.25
$0.10 =$412,191 $44.50
$0.15 =$618,286 $66.75
$0.20 =$824,382 $89.00
$0.25 =$1,030,477 $111.25
$0.30 =$1,236,572 $133.50
$0.35 =$1,442,668 $155.75
$0.40 =$1,648,763 $178.00
$0.45 =$1,854,859 $200.25
$0.50 =$2,060,954 $222.50
$0.55 =$2,267,049 $244.75
$0.60 =$2,473,145 $267.00
$0.65 =$2,679,240 $289.25
$0.70 =$2,885,336 $311.50
$0.75 =$3,091,431 $333.75
$0.80 =$3,297,526 $356.00
$0.85 =$3,503,622 $378.25
$0.90 =$3,709,717 $400.50
$0.95 =$3,915,813 $422.75
$1.00 =$4,121,908 $445.00
TOWN OF BREWSTER
PROPERTY TAX VALUATION =
FISCAL YEAR 2020
RATE
INCREASE
TAX
September 2020 17
FISCAL YRS FISCAL FISCAL FISCAL FISCAL
DEPARTMENTAL INDEX 2020-2021 YEAR 2021 YEAR YEAR YEAR
SEPT: 2020 MAY: 2021 2022 2023 2024
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS:
1. Drainage/Road Maintenance Projects $50,000 $100,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000
2. Millstone Road Design & Construction (Road Bond)$110,000 $1,825,000 $3,520,000
3. Other Town Road Bond Projects - TBD $1,000,000
4. Route 137 Design & Construction (Ch 90 State Aid)$100,000 $1,200,000
5. Crosby Culvert (Grant & Road Bond)$150,000 $250,000
6. H4 Dump Truck 2008 $245,000
7. P2 One Ton Truck 2012 $100,000
8. L2 Front End Loader 1989 $225,000
9. L3 Loader/Backhoe 2006 $225,000
10. H9 One ton Truck 2015 $100,000
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
1. Cruiser Replacements $135,000 $135,000 $140,000 $140,000
GOLF DEPARTMENT:
1. Equipment Replacement $229,000 $225,000 $203,000
2. Maintenance Building Replacement $1,000,000
3. Irrigation System Upgrade $2,200,000
WATER DEPARTMENT:
1. Water Construction Account $90,000 $90,000 $180,000 $180,000 $180,000
2. Water Generator Project $1,200,000
3. Red Top Water Main $125,000
4. Master Plan Update $250,000
5. Tank 1 & 2 Standpipe Rehabilitation $1,500,000
SELECT BOARD:
1. Housing Trust $250,000 $225,000 $225,000 $225,000
2. Community Center TBD
3. Dog Park (Grants & CPA) $500,000
4. Phosphorous Treatment - Ponds $150,000
5. McGuerty Land Purchase (CPA & Water Reserves)$306,000
BREWSTER LADIES LIBRARY:
1. Library Renovation Design & Construction $471,180 $12,286,355
NATURAL RESOURCES:
1. Freemans Pond Culvert Wing Walls (Grants)$300,000
2. Stony Brook Millsites Retaining Wall (Grants)$300,000
3. Bike Trail Extension (Grants)$800,000 $1,100,000
NAUSET REGIONAL SCHOOLS:
1. High School Renovation Project *see Note 1 below $131,825,665
2. Annual Capital Allocation $262,138 $268,691 $275,409 $282,294 $289,351
STONY BROOK ELEMENTARY:
1. Replace Ventilators $320,000
2. Design & Replace Asphalt Roof $200,000 $1,200,000
3. Design & Replace Rubber Roof and Boiler $150,000
4. Whitecaps Facility Improvements $425,000
EDDY ELEMENTARY:
1. Resurface Parking Lot and Drive $160,000
2. Shingle Replacement $350,000
TOTAL REQUESTS $1,393,138 $137,819,356 $9,005,589 $4,357,294 $18,573,706
FISCAL YRS FISCAL FISCAL FISCAL FISCAL
SOURCE OF FUNDS 2020-2021 YEAR 2021 YEAR YEAR YEAR
SEPT: 2020 MAY: 2021 2022 2023 2024 **
DEBT AUTHORIZATIONS $0 $45,716,959 $1,106,000 $0 $1,500,000
WATER RESERVES $160,000 $1,665,000 $180,000 $180,000 $1,680,000
GOLF RESERVES $0 $0 $229,000 $225,000 $3,403,000
FREE CASH / CAPITAL STABILIZATION $50,000 $661,000 $865,590 $1,020,000 $3,265,000
SHORT TERM RENTAL REVENUE $0 $175,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000
RAISE & APPROPRIATE $262,138 $268,691 $275,409 $282,294 $289,351
ROAD BOND $140,000 $1,875,000 $3,520,000 $1,000,000 $0
CHAPTER 90 STATE AID $0 $100,000 $1,200,000 $0 $0
GRANTS & GIFTS $120,000 $1,174,000 $1,244,000 $1,500,000 $6,655,737
CPA FUNDS $661,000 $100,000 $235,590 $0 $1,630,618
TOTAL REVENUES $1,393,138 $51,735,650 $9,005,589 $4,357,294 $18,573,706
* NOTE 1: Total project cost is $131,825,665. MSBA reimbursement total is $36,661,305 (27.81% of total project cost).
Based on current student enrollment, Brewster's FY21 regional assessment is 48.04%, setting Brewster's share of total project costs at $63.3M.
** NOTE 2: The FY24 Total does not include a number for the Community Center as that is unknown at this time.
TOWN OF BREWSTER PROJECTED CAPITAL PROJECTS IN EXCESS OF $100,000
September 2020 18
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE REPORT
Below please find the Health and Human Services Committee’s recommendations for funding
for 17 agencies that support Brewster citizens. In continuing our work to better understand the
needs of our residents, in addition to reviewing the 17 agency-funding request applications, the
committee heard presentations from representatives of three agencies: Alzheimer’s Family
Support, Cape Abilities and Nauset Together We Can. The Committee also met with a
representative from the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands, Inc., which helps
Brewster residents with health insurance, childcare, networking and immigration services. The
Committee again staffed a “Brewster Cares” table one Sunday each summer month during the
Brewster Historical Society’s Farmers’ Market, where we distributed information about the
agencies as well as information about current human service needs. The Committee continued
to maintain the website, BrewsterCares.Org, an online portal for learning about and giving to
nonprofit organizations that support Brewster residents.
AGENCY FY21
Recommendation
FY20
Award
FY19
Award
Aids Support Group of Cape Cod $3000 $2,500 $2,500
Alzheimer’s Family Support $10,000 $10,000 $9,000
Cape Abilities $7,000 $7,000 $7,000
CC Child Development Closed $4,500 $5,020
Cape Cod Children’s Place $9,000 $8,500 $8,000
Consumer Assistance Council $500 $500 $600
Duffy Health Center $1,000 $1,000 $1,000
Elder Services $8,600 $8,500 $8,500
Family Pantry of Cape Cod
$4,300
No
Application
New for FY21
No Application
New for FY21
Gosnold $12,000 $11,500 $11,000
Homeless Prevention Council $15,000 $15,000 $15,000
Independence House $7,300 $6,000 $6,000
Lower Cape Outreach Council $9,500 $9,500 $9,500
Nauset Together We Can $3,000 $3,000 $3,500
Nauset Youth Alliance $10,800 $10, 800 $10,000
Outer Cape Health Services $15,000 $15,000 $15,000
Sight Loss Services $1,500 $1,200 No Application
South Coastal Counties Legal Services $4,120 $4,134 $4,120
Total $121,620 $118,634 $115,740
This funding is now included in the Town Operating Budget, in the Public Assistance Funding
line item under Human Services Expenses.
September 2020 19
The FY2021 requests represent a 2.5% increase in funding over FY2020; level funding for nine
agencies, increased funding for six agencies, decreased funding for one agencies, and funding
for one new agency. One agency from previous years permanently closed.
Following is but one 2019 highlight from each organization:
Aids Support Group of Cape Cod, in addition to offering free screenings and an overdose
prevention program, served 5 Brewster residents with medical case management with a
conservatively estimated total cost of $10,572 per year. Recommended Funding: $3,000
Alzheimer’s Family Support served 117 Brewster residents on average each month with
support groups, ongoing phone support, counseling, care consultation, memory screenings,
education, outreach and social and cultural events with a conservatively estimated total cost of
$60,900 per year. Recommended Funding: $10,000
Cape Abilities served 28 Brewster residents with vocational training, supported employment,
day habilitation, life skills, community-based day supports, residential services, adult family care
and shared living with a conservatively estimated total cost of $2,268,618 per year.
Recommended Funding: $7,000
Cape Cod Children’s Place served 473 Brewster residents with family support visits, play groups
and parenting education classes with a conservatively estimated total cost of $22,140 per year.
Recommended Funding: $9,000
Consumer Assistance Council served as consumer advocate for 9 Brewster cases with a total
dollars recouped and/or saved of $27,915 per year (averaged over the last two years).
Recommended Funding: $500
Duffy Health Center, through their In From The Streets Program, served 3 Brewster clients by
providing 9 nights of emergency safe shelter with a conservatively estimated total cost of
$1,665 per year. Recommended Funding: $1,000
Elder Services delivered 9,357 Meal-on-Wheels to 88 Brewster residents with an estimated
total cost of $87,020 per year. Recommended Funding: $8,600
Family Pantry of Cape Cod provided food, clothing, healthy eating education and a mobile
pantry to 373 Brewster residents over 2617 hours of service with an estimated total cost of
$28,884 per year. Recommended Funding: $4,300
Gosnold served 122 Brewster residents with 3,904 units of inpatient and/or outpatient services
including Outpatient Therapy for Substance Use, Outpatient Therapy for Mental Health and
Ambulatory Medical Services with a conservatively estimated total cost of $390,400 per year.
Recommended Funding: $12,000
Homeless Prevention Council provided case managers for 80 Brewster families with a
conservatively estimated total cost of $49,440 per year. Recommended Funding: $15,000
September 2020 20
Independence House provides an array of services including counseling, advocacy and basic
needs to 90 Brewster survivors and 136 units of service to Brewster children through the Child
Witness to Violence Program and Child Sexual Assault Services with an estimated total cost of
$82,046 per year. Recommended Funding: $7,300
Lower Cape Outreach Council served 245 Brewster households through cash assistance, food,
clothing, Thanksgiving baskets and holiday toys with an estimated total cost of $482,218 per
year. Recommended Funding: $9,500
Nauset Together We Can served 20 Brewster middle schoolers over 144 visits to the free Youth
After School Program which provides a safe, healthy, social environment for students to do
homework, play and relax with adult supervision and mentoring for a conservatively estimated
total cost of $3,600 per year. Recommended Funding: $3,000
Nauset Youth Alliance served 112 Brewster children by providing after-school care and summer
programming with an estimated total cost of $369,797 per year. Recommended Funding:
$10,800
Outer Cape Health Services provided 833 Brewster residents 3,173 billable visits and 9,964
non-billable encounters (including uninsured patients and phone, web, lab, pharmacy etc.) with
an estimated total cost of $774,212 per year for billable visits only. Recommended Funding:
$15,000
Sight Loss Services provided 487 units of service (support groups, education, referrals, home
independence, adaptive aids and advocacy) to 105 Brewster residents with an estimated total
cost of $9,145 per year. Recommended Funding: $1,500
South Coastal Counties Legal Services provided free legal services to 23 low-income and/or
elderly Brewster residents with an estimated total cost of $27,853 per year. Recommended
Funding: $4,120
The members of this committee continue to be impressed with the work of these agencies in
their efforts to support our townspeople. It is clear that Brewster residents seek out these
agencies for support, especially in times of crisis; it is also clear that the agencies seek to find
new and more effective ways to meet the needs expressed by our residents.
September 2020 21
September 2020 22
TOWN OF BREWSTER SPECIAL TOWN MEETING SEPTEMBER 12, 2020
Barnstable, ss
To: Roland W. Bassett, Jr. Constable of the Town of Brewster
Greetings:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and
inform the Town of Brewster inhabitants qualified to vote in Town affairs to meet at the Stony
Brook Elementary School, 384 Underpass Road, on Saturday, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020, next, at
10:05 a.m. o’clock in the morning, then and there to act upon the following articles:
UNPAID BILLS
ARTICLE NO. 1: To see what sums the Town will vote to appropriate, and also to raise, borrow
pursuant to an applicable statute or transfer from available funds for the payment, pursuant to
G.L. c.44, §64, of unpaid bills from previous fiscal years, including any bills now on overdraft:
Vendor Amount
a. Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative $20,458.58
b. Division of Unemployment Assistance $50,000.00
c. Direct Energy $228.79
Total $70,687.37
Or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Nine-tenths Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article will authorize the payment of outstanding bills from a previous fiscal year.
According to Massachusetts General Laws, a Town cannot pay a bill from a previous fiscal year
with the current year’s appropriation. Therefore, Town Meeting authorization is required.
a. Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative – This bill is related to the Clean Focus Solar Project
on Run Hill Road. This invoice was received after the close of fiscal year 2019 and therefor is
required to be approved at Town Meeting. The funding source will be General Fund Free Cash.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
b. Division of Unemployment Assistance - As a result of the Covid19 pandemic and the
overwhelming increase in unemployment across the state, the Mass. Division of
Unemployment has been overburdened since March. They have suspended processing claims
indefinitely and have not given the town a date the processing will resume. The funding source
for these bills will be General Fund Free Cash and Golf Reserve Fund Reserves, respectively.
September 2020 23
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
c. Direct Energy - These are the June bills for natural gas for the clubhouse and maintenance
building at the golf course. These bills were received after the close of the fiscal year. The
funding source for these bill will be Golf Reserve Fund.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 7, No 0, Abs 0
RESCIND DEBT AUTHORIZATION
ARTICLE NO. 2: To see if the Town will vote to repeal or rescind unused borrowing authority
authorized by previous town meetings, as follows;
DEPARTMENT ITEM ARTICLE / TOWN
MEETING
AMOUNT TO BE
RESCINDED
Golf Reel Grinding
Equipment
Article 10 of the May
2019 Annual Town
Meeting
$35,000
Golf Pick Up Truck Article 10 of the May
2019 Annual Town
Meeting
$50,000
Golf Well Recondition and
Pump Replacement
Project
Article 10 of the May
2019 Annual Town
Meeting
$55,000
Golf Clubhouse Fire Alarm
System
Article 10 of the May
2019 Annual Town
Meeting
$20,000
Golf Clubhouse Repairs Article 10 of the May
2019 Annual Town
Meeting
$20,000
or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
September 2020 24
COMMENT
This article simply serves to rescind the authorized but unissued debt for completed requests
and/or projects. The above listed capital items have been purchased and the clubhouse fire
alarm system updated using Golf Receipts Reserved for Appropriation, so the borrowing
authorization is no longer needed. The club house repairs will take place in fiscal year 2021 and
that cost is included in the Golf Departments operating budget and the Well Reconditioning
project has been deferred.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
WATER DEPARTMENT ENTERPRISE FUND
ARTICLE NO. 3: To see if the Town will vote to accept the provision of G.L. Ch. 44 Section 53F½
in order to establish a Water Department Enterprise Fund for fiscal year commencing on July 1,
2020, and to transfer any funds remaining in the Water Department Reserve Fund as of June
30, 2020, or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
While Brewster Water Department revenues and expenses have always been accounted for
separate from the General Fund, acceptance of this local option formally establishes the Water
Department as an enterprise fund. Enterprise fund accounting provides more flexibility and
transparency than the current enabling statute for our Water Department. It clearly identifies
the total cost of providing this service and helps determine if the rates charged are sufficient to
cover the cost, providing useful management information and data tracking for more
informative decision making. The Water Department recently completed a 5 year rate study
that is set to take effect later this year.
Further, enterprise fund accounting allows payments for indirect costs to flow from the
enterprise to the General Fund to reimburse the Town for the associated costs of Town
employees working on enterprise activities. Also, surpluses remain in the fund and may be used
to pay operating, capital, or debt service costs associated with the operation. Additionally,
investment income earned by the particular enterprise fund is retained within the fund to
finance anticipated projects. The MA Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services
recommended making this change in their 2019 Financial Management Review.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
September 2020 25
HOME RULE PETITION/Conveyance of a Parcel of Land
ARTICLE NO. 4: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to petition the
General Court for special legislation authorizing the conveyance to the Town of the fee simple
title to or a lesser interest in a portion or portions of the Nickerson State Forest for public way,
sidewalk and/or shared path purposes and undertaking the Millstone Road project, or to take
any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
As the Town continues to finalize design for the Millstone Road project, a small portion of the
western boundary of Nickerson State Park has been identified within the proposed road layout.
Specifically, an area of the park adjacent to Joe Long Road measuring approximately 10,000
square feet is located where the Town is planning to incrementally expand the shoulder and
install a new 5 foot sidewalk. These enhancements are part of the project’s overarching goals
of improving pedestrian and bicycle safety along this important corridor and are intended to
make it safer for residents and visitors to access the extensive trail system in Nickerson via a
nearby trailhead. State officials have expressed support for this project and this particular
transaction but must follow specific statutory processes relative to the disposition of protected
conservation land.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
PROPERTY VALUATION SERVICES
ARTICLE NO. 5: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Overlay Surplus account the
sum of Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80,000) for the purposes of conducting revaluations of real
and personal property and to authorize the Town Administrator to solicit bids and/or proposals,
enter into a contract or contracts and expend said funds for this purpose, or to take any other
action relative thereto.
(Board of Assessors) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article seeks funding for the third year of a three-year contract with a private firm for
property valuation services required to annually set assessed value, collect new growth, and
perform property inspections. The funding comes from the Overlay Reserve Account, which in
turn is funded from a transfer from the balance in the Overlay Accounts that are no longer
needed to cover abatements and exemptions.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
September 2020 26
You are hereby directed to serve this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at
the time and place of said meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hand and Seal of the Town of Brewster affixed this __th day of August 2020.
___________________________________
Mary W. Chaffee, Chair
___________________________________
Benjamin W. deRuyter, Vice Chair
___________________________________
Cynthia A. Bingham, Clerk
___________________________________
David C. Whitney
___________________________________
Edward B. Chatelain
I, Roland W. Bassett Jr, duly qualified Constable for the Town of Brewster, hereby certify that I
served the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting of September 12, 2020 by posting attested
copies thereof, in the following locations in the Town on the __th day of August 2020.
Brewster Town Offices
Café Alfresco
Brewster Ladies Library Brewster Pizza House
The Brewster General Store Millstone Liquors
U. S. Post Office
_________________________________
Roland W. Bassett, Jr. Constable
September 2020 27
TOWN OF BREWSTER ANNUAL TOWN MEETING SEPTEMBER 12, 2020
Barnstable, ss
To: Roland W. Bassett, Jr. Constable of the Town of Brewster
Greetings:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and
inform the Town of Brewster inhabitants qualified to vote in Town affairs to meet at the Stony
Brook Elementary School, 384 Underpass Road, on Saturday, September 12, 2020, next, at
10:00 a.m. o’clock in the morning, then and there to act upon the following articles:
CAPE COD REGIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL OPERATING BUDGET
ARTICLE NO. 1: To see what sums the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer
from available funds to defray Cape Cod Regional Technical High School charges and expenses
for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2021, as follows;
DEPARTMENT EXPENDED
FY2019
APPROPRIATED
FY2020
REQUESTED
FY2021
CAPE COD TECH
ASSESSMENT
$845,458 $753,875 $562,646
DEBT ASSESSMENT New in FY20 $489,117 $294,741
TOTAL ASSESSMENT $845,458 $1,242,992 $857,387
or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Cape Cod Technical School Committee) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article will provide funding for the Fiscal Year 2021 operating budget for the Cape Cod
Regional Technical High School District. This district consists of the Towns of Barnstable,
Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro,
Wellfleet and Yarmouth. The overall district-wide budget has increased by 2.76% over Fiscal
Year 2020. Brewster’s actual share of the assessment has decreased by a sum of $191,229 or
25.36% over Fiscal Year 2020. District wide enrollment has increased from 570 students to 616
students; with Brewster’s enrollment decreasing from 36 to 29 students for this same period.
The Debt Assessment line represents Brewster’s second year payment for our share of the
school building project for a new Cape Cod Regional Technical High School. This project was
approved by the voters at the October 24, 2017 Special Election.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 1
September 2020 28
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OPERATING BUDGET
ARTICLE NO. 2: To see what sums the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer
from available funds to defray the Elementary Schools’ charges and expenses, for the Fiscal
Year ending June 30, 2021, as follows;
DEPARTMENT EXPENDED
FY2019
APPROPRIATED
FY2020
REQUESTED
FY2021
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BUDGET
$7,644,850 $7,777,113 $7,971,540
SCHOOL FRINGE BENEFITS $2,064,113 $2,215,147 $2,068,441
TOTAL ASSESSMENT: $9,708,963 $9,992,260 $10,039,981
or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Elementary School Committee) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article will provide funding for the Fiscal Year 2021 operational budget for the Stony Brook
and Eddy Elementary Schools. The Fiscal Year 2021 budget request for the Elementary Schools
stands at $7,971,540. These operational budgets have increased by the total sum of $194,427
or 2.5%, over Fiscal Year 2020. The Town’s total elementary school assessment is increasing by
.5% when the schools proportionate shares of fringe benefits expenses is applied.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 1
NAUSET REGIONAL SCHOOLS OPERATING BUDGET
ARTICLE NO. 3: To see what sums the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer
from available funds to defray the Nauset Regional School District charges and expenses for the
Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2021, as follows;
DEPARTMENT EXPENDED
FY2019
APPROPRIATED
FY2020
REQUESTED
FY2021
NAUSET
ASSESSMENT
$10,397,696 $10,812,935 $11,476,397
NAUSET DEBT
ASSESSMENT
$115,162 $122,175 $122,645
TOTAL ASSESSMENT: $10,512,858 $10,935,110 $11,599,042
September 2020 29
or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Nauset Regional School Committee) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article provides funding for the Fiscal Year 2021 operational budget for the Nauset
Regional School District. The overall operating budget for the Nauset Regional Schools stands
at $24,690,214 which represents an increase of 2.5% over the prior year. Brewster’s share of
the Nauset Schools operational budget is $11,599,042. Brewster’s proportionate share of
enrollment has increased from 46.44% in Fiscal Year 2020 to 48.04% in Fiscal Year 2021. The
Town’s share of the operational budget has increase 6.14% over Fiscal Year 2020, due to the
increase in Brewster’s share of the enrollment.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 1
ASSESSMENT FORMULA FOR NAUSET REGIONAL SCHOOLS
ARTICLE NO. 4: To see if the Town will vote, pursuant to the provisions of the fourth paragraph
of G.L. c.71, §16B, to reallocate the sum of the member towns’ contributions to the Nauset
Regional School District in Fiscal Year 2022 in accordance with the Regional Agreement rather
than the Education Reform Formula, so-called, or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Nauset Regional School Committee) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article will apportion the Nauset Regional School District’s assessment to the four member
towns for the upcoming fiscal year based on their proportionate annual student enrollment
within the school district. This specific methodology is provided for within the inter-municipal
agreement, approved by the four towns establishing the Nauset Regional School District. This
allocation formula has been applied in each of the last twenty two years by Town Meeting vote.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
September 2020 30
TOWN OPERATING BUDGET
ARTICLE NO. 5: To see what sums the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from
available funds, or borrow pursuant to any applicable statute, for the purposes of supporting
the offices, departments, boards and commissions of the Town of Brewster for Fiscal Year 2021,
including authorization for lease purchases of up to five years, as follows;
EXPENDED APPROPRIATED REQUESTED
DEPARTMENT FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Finance Committee $4,821 $104,700 $130,500
Assessors $173,593 $130,307 $131,490
Accounting $309,838 $226,822 $221,999
Treasurer/
Collector
$254,805 $275,715 $286,465
Information
Technology
$258,513 $226,447 $267,427
Legal $113,497 $175,640 $165,640
Moderator $300 $300 $300
Planning $154,814 $171,315 $174,184
Select Board / Town
Administration
$501,924 $480,292 $489,999
Town Clerk $185,080 $185,782 $213,490
Public Buildings $158,893 $164,121 $164,420
SUBTOTAL GENERAL
GOVERNMENT
$2,116,077 $2,141,441 $2,245,914
PUBLIC SAFETY
Building Department $398,008 $419,608 $407,134
Fire Department $2,643,716 $2,767,280 $2,846,338
Natural Resources $358,958 $416,831 $429,439
Police Department $2,637,547 $2,834,611 $2,861,915
Sealer of Weights &
Measures
New in FY21 New in FY21 $9,000
SUBTOTAL PUBLIC
SAFETY
$6,038,228 $6,438,330 $6,553,826
September 2020 31
EXPENDED APPROPRIATED REQUESTED
DEPARTMENT FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021
PUBLIC WORKS
Public Works $1,781,859 $1,728,362 $1,933,043
Snow & Ice Removal $149,001 $158,644 $161,817
Street Lights $3,252 $5,515 $5,515
SUBTOTAL PUBLIC
WORKS
$1,934,112 $1,89,521 $2,100,375
HUMAN SERVICES
Council on Aging $282,715 $343,425 $344,809
Board of Health $244,395 $259,893 $246,076
Veteran’s Services $96,883 $107,554 $140,979
Public Assistance $125,740 $128,634 $141,620
SUBTOTAL HUMAN
SERVICES
$749,734 $839,506 $873,484
CULTURE & RECREATION
Brewster Ladies
Library
$624,120 $656,542 $663,459
Recreation $190,073 $198,484 $197,657
Memorial &
Veterans Day
$1,500 $1,500 $1,500
SUBTOTAL CULTURE
& RECREATION
$815,693 $856,526 $862,616
DEBT SERVICE
Principal & Interest $2,233,660
$2,288,229 $2,122,287
SUBTOTAL DEBT
SERVICE
$2,233,660 $2,288,229 $2,122,287
INSURANCE, UTILITIES & FRINGE BENEFITS
General Insurance $435,574 $485,000 $445,000
Utilities $374,315 $417,171 $425,171
Fringe Benefits
Including OPEB
$3,586,130 $4,150,599 $4,603,156
September 2020 32
SUBTOTAL
INSURANCE &
FRINGE BENEFITS
$4,396,020 $5,052,770 $5,473,327
EXPENDED APPROPRIATED REQUESTED
DEPARTMENT FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSE & ASSESSMENTS
Assessments $25,140 $27,540 $28,040
Alewives $3,456 $4,350 $4,350
General Stabilization
Fund
$275,000 $0 $200,000
Local Service Funding $34,784 $35,100 $40,000
SUBTOTAL OTHER
OEPRATING
EXPENSE &
ASSESSMENTS
$338,380 $66,990 $272,390
GRAND TOTAL OF
GENERAL FUND
OPERATING
BUDGETS
$18,621,903 $19,576,313 $20,504,219
Or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article will provide funding for the Fiscal Year 2021 operational budget for the Town
boards, committees, and departments. The Town reduced its original FY21 budget by more
than $500k in response to the pandemic and its potential impact on estimated revenues. The
Town’s operational budget, as presented in this article, exclusive of the transfer to the general
stabilization fund, has increased 3.72%
Public Assistance: This section is inclusive of funding for the Health & Human Service
organizations and fuel assistance.
Assessments: This section is inclusive of funding for Pleasant Bay Alliance, Greenhead
Fly and the Historic District.
Local Services Funding: This section is inclusive of Chamber of Commerce, Town Band,
Cultural Council, Skipping Program and Millsites.
Water Department and Golf Department related operating expenditures are now shown in
their own articles in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53F½
September 2020 33
and Chapter 40, Section 5 respectively. Water, Golf, and Ambulance related capital requests
are still contained in the Capital Appropriation Article.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0
Finance Committee: The Finance Committee reviewed all department budgets and voted in
the majority to support all budgets.
GOLF DEPARTMENT RESERVE FUND
ARTICLE NO. 6: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the Golf Fund, in accordance
with G.L. c.40, §5F, the sum of THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THREE THOUSAND FIVE
HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS ($3,503,565) for the purpose of offsetting costs for Fiscal Year
2021 associated with golf department related expenses including, but not limited to acquiring
professional services and equipment, personnel and maintaining facilities and operations,
including authorization for lease purchases of up to five years; all expenditures to be made by
the Golf Department, subject to the approval of the Town Administrator, or to take any other
action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 5F, receipts from Golf
Department related activities are used to directly offset Golf Department related expenditures.
Voting a spending amount for the Golf Departments allows all receipts and related
expenditures to be recorded in one fund. The FY21 Golf Budget reflects up-to-date analysis of
the impact of the pandemic on course operations and estimated revenues, and includes modest
funding for investment in necessary capital projects.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 7, No 0, Abs 0
WATER DEPARTMENT ENTERPRISE FUND
ARTICLE NO. 7: To see if the Town will vote, in accordance with G.L. c. 44, §53F1/2, to
appropriate from Water Department receipts, transfer from available funds or otherwise fund
the sum of TWO MILLION SIX HUNDRED THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY
FOUR DOLLARS ($2,637,454) for Fiscal Year 2021 costs associated with the operation of the
Water Department including, but not limited to acquiring professional services and equipment,
personnel and maintaining facilities and operations, including authorization for lease purchases
of up to five years; all expenditures to be made by the Water Department, subject to the
approval of the Town Administrator, or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
September 2020 34
COMMENT
In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 53F1/2, receipts from
Water Department related activities are used to directly offset Water Department related
expenditures including capital and infrastructure costs. Voting a spending amount within the
Water Department Enterprise Fund allows receipts and related expenditures to be recorded in
one fund. See related commentary for Article #3 in this year’s Special Town Meeting for more
information.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT FUNDING
ARTICLE NO. 8: To see if the Town will vote to act on the report of the Community Preservation
Committee on the Fiscal Year 2021 Community Preservation Budget and to appropriate or
reserve for later appropriation monies from the Community Preservation Fund annual revenues
or available funds for the administrative and operating expenses of the Community
Preservation Committee, the undertaking of Community Preservation Projects and all other
necessary and proper expenses for the year, with each item considered a separate
appropriation to be spent by the Community Preservation Committee, all as set forth below:
Estimated revenues FY21
a. Estimated FY21 tax surcharge $1,058,000
b. Estimated FY21 state contribution (11.2%) $118,496
c. FY21 Estimated Revenue Total: $1,176,496
FY21 Appropriations and Allocations
d. Historic Preservation Reserve appropriation (10%) $117,650
e. Community Housing Reserve appropriation (10%) $117,650
f. Open Space Reserve appropriation (50%) $588,248
g. Budgeted Reserve* (30%) $352,948
h. Total $1,176,496
* 5% of FY21 Estimated Total Revenues ($58,825) is appropriated for Administrative Expense,
leaving a net total of $294,123 in Budgeted Reserve.
Purpose Item Funding Source(s) Amount
1 Historic Preservation
a. Designated Reserves for
Historic Preservation
Transfer to reserve
from estimated annual
revenues in accordance
with G.L. c.44B, §6
Fiscal Year 2021 CPA
estimated annual
revenues
$117,650
Sub-total $117,650
September 2020 35
Purpose Item Funding Source(s) Amount
2 Community Housing
a. Town of Brewster –
Town Administration-
Housing Coordinator
Payroll and operating
costs for Part Time
Housing Coordinator
position to assist public
with affordable
housing program
Fiscal Year 2021 CPA
estimated annual
revenues
$49,500
b. Community
Development
Partnership - Cape
Housing Institute
Professional service
costs associated with 2
years of training
program equipping
local elected and
appointed officials and
residents with
knowledge and skills to
support creation of
more year- round
affordable housing
Fiscal Year 2021 CPA
estimated annual
revenues
$15,000
c. Designated Reserves
for Community Housing
Transfer to reserve
from estimated annual
receipts in accordance
with G.L. c.44B, §6
Fiscal Year 2021 CPA
estimated annual
revenues
$53,150
Sub-total $117,650
3 Open Space
a. Community
Preservation Bonded
Debt Service
Payment of debt
principal and interest
for the Jolly Whaler,
BBJ Property, and
Bates Property bonds
Fiscal Year 2021 CPA
estimated annual
revenues
$271,695
b. Community
Preservation Loan Debt
Service
Payment of debt
principal and interest
for the Besse
Cartway/Long Pond
property loan
Appropriate
$316,553 from Fiscal
Year 2021 CPA
estimated annual
revenues; transfer
$88,651 from Fund
Balance Reserved
for Open Space
$405,204
Sub-total $676,899
September 2020 36
Purpose Item Funding Source(s) Amount
4 Reserves for Community Preservation
a. Pleasant Bay
Community Boating
Creation of an ADA
compliant dock on
Pleasant Bay
Fiscal Year 2021 CPA
estimated annual
revenues
$25,000
b. Brewster
Whitecaps/Brewster
School Committee
Stony Brook field
improvements
Appropriate
$269,123 from Fiscal
Year 2021 CPA
estimated annual
revenues: transfer
$155,877 from
Budgeted Reserves
for CPA
$425,000
c. Administration Expense
Administration and
operating expenses for
Community
Preservation
Committee
Fiscal Year 2021 CPA
estimated annual
revenues
$58,825
Sub-total $508,825
Grand Total $1,421,024
For Fiscal Year 2021 Community Preservation purposes, each item is considered a separate
appropriation to be spent by the Community Preservation Committee; provided however, that
the above expenditures may be conditional on the recording of the appropriate historic
preservation restrictions for historic resources, open space restrictions for open space reserves,
and housing restrictions for community housing; running in favor of an entity authorized by the
Commonwealth to hold such restrictions for such expenditures; meeting the requirements of
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 184, Section 12 of the Community Preservation Act;
Further, to sunset the administrative expense authorization at the close of the fiscal year and
transfer any unused balance to the fund balance reserved for Community Preservation;
And further, any revenues received in excess of the estimated receipts are transferred to their
respective reserve fund balance(s) for future appropriation using the allocation formula of 50%
Open Space, 10% Housing, 10% Historical and 30% for Community Preservation Reserve.
Or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Community Preservation Committee) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
In May of 2005, Brewster approved a ballot question which allowed for the adoption of the
modified Community Preservation Act (“CPA” or “Act”). As required by law, the Town also, by
September 2020 37
bylaw, created a Community Preservation Committee (“CPC”). In Brewster, the Act imposes a
3% surcharge on the Town’s real estate tax revenues, which surcharge, along with any amount
received from state as matching funds, is reserved in a special fund in order to finance projects
and programs for the following purposes: acquisition, creation and preservation of open space;
acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of historic resources; acquisition,
creation, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of land for recreational use; acquisition,
creation, preservation and support of community housing; and for the rehabilitation or
restoration of open space and community housing that is acquired or created as provided in the
Act. Each year, the Town must estimate the amount of the 3% surcharge to be collected and
the amount of state matching funds to be received, referred to generally as “estimated annual
revenues”. We anticipate a reduced reimbursement rate from the State for Fiscal Year 2021,
which is projected at 11.2%. The Town’s CPC Bylaw establishes a distribution schedule for CPA
estimated annual revenues as follows: 50% of the funds for open space, 10% for community
housing, 10% for historic preservation, with the 30% balance, the Budgeted Reserve, available
for housing, historic preservation and/or active or passive recreation projects by appropriation.
1. Historic Preservation:
a. Designated Reserves for Historic Preservation- This item will allocate the balance of the
$117,650 in unallocated Historic Preservation funds for Fiscal Year 2021 into the Historic
Preservation account for future appropriation.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 7, No 0, Abs 0
2. Community Housing:
a. Town of Brewster - Housing Coordinator - This item will increase the weekly hours of the
part-time Housing Coordinator position from 19 to 25 for Fiscal Year 2021. Like other towns in
the region and state that are trying to increase the supply of affordable housing in their
community and in tackling complex housing policy concerns, Brewster will benefit from
continuing to have a professional on staff to solely focus on affordable housing issues such as
coordinating and publicizing the Town’s affordable housing programs and resources,
implementing aspects of the Housing Production Plan, working with developers and
neighborhoods, monitoring existing affordable housing restrictions, and advising Town boards
and committees about potential opportunities to increase the supply of affordable housing. The
benefit expense resulting from the increase in hours will be covered by the Town.
Total Project Cost: $86,453 CPC Request: $49,500 CPC Vote: 8-0-0
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 7, No 0, Abs 0
b. Community Development Partnership - Cape Housing Institute - This item will enable the
Community Development Partnership to support year 4 and 5 of the Cape Housing Institute, a
6-week training program and peer group meetings that equip local elected and appointed
September 2020 38
officials and interested citizens with the knowledge and skills needed to support the creation of
more year-round housing in Brewster and the rest of the Lower Cape. Approximately 200 Lower
Cape officials/residents attended the first three training sessions, including 29 from Brewster.
Total Project Cost: $286,000 CPC Request: $15,000 CPC Vote: 8-0-0
Selectmen: Yes 4, No 0, Abs 1 Finance Committee: Yes 7, No 0, Abs 0
C. Designated Reserves for Community Housing - This item will allocate the balance of the
$53,150 in unallocated Community Housing funds for Fiscal Year 2021 into the Community
Housing account for future appropriation.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 7, No 0, Abs 0
3. Open Space:
a. Community Preservation Bonded Debt Service - This item pays for the $271,695 in FY 2021
principal and interest on 1 Land Bank (Jolly Whaler) and 3 CPA (BBJ 1 and 2 and Bates) open
space acquisitions that were financed via long term bonding.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 7, No 0, Abs 0
b. Community Preservation Loan Debt Service - This item pays for $405,204 in FY 2021 to make
a $400,000 principal reduction along with the interest payment on the Besse Cartway/Long
Pond open space acquisition that was financed via a short-term one year loan.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 7, No 0, Abs 0
4. Reserves for Community Preservation:
a. Pleasant Bay Community Boating - This project will enable the only fully ADA compliant
dock on the Pleasant Bay estuary to make it possible for Pleasant Bay Community Boating to
expand its adaptive sailing and paddling programs and enable people with physical challenges
to participate more fully in all marine, environmental, and recreation programs. The accessible
dock project consists of six interconnected areas including an accessible drop-off area on Route
28, a pathway to the pier, a permanent pier connected to a staging/viewing area and a seasonal
gangway connected to a seasonal float. The dock will provide boating and marine education
opportunities for those with mobility issues, and facilitate enhanced safety and operations for
all participants. In 2018, PBCB served 2,048 individuals, 1,047 students, and 537 community
outreach participants.
Total Project Cost: $250,000 CPC Request: $25,000 CPC Vote: 9-0-0
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 1, Abs 0
September 2020 39
b. Brewster Whitecaps/Brewster School Committee - This item will pay for improvements to
walkways, bleachers, fencing, netting and bathroom access assuring ADA compliance and
enhanced fan safety at Stony Brook Field. The project consists of two phases: Phase 1
($393,703) is designed to improve access for people who are mobility challenged, add handicap
seating, improve pedestrian flow, and improve fan safety and erosion control. Phase 2
($134,860) will improve fan safety, ADA compliance and fan experience. The CPC recommends
funding for Phase 1 and safety items of Phase 2.
Total Project Cost: $528,563 CPC Request: $425,000 CPC Vote: 8-0-0
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 5, No 1, Abs 1
c. Administrative Expense - This item will fund the costs associated with general administrative
and operating expenses, including but not limited to legal and other professional consulting
services, related to carrying out the operations of the Community Preservation Committee. The
Community Preservation Act allows up to 5 % of expected annual revenues for this purpose.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 7, No 0, Abs 0
LAND ACQUISITION/Community Preservation Act
ARTICLE NO. 9: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire, by
purchase, gift, and/or eminent domain, for conservation, watershed protection and/or passive
recreation purposes pursuant to the provisions of G.L. Ch. 40, Sections 8C, 39B and 41 and
Article 97 of the Articles of Amendment of the Massachusetts Constitution, approximately
10.41 acres located at 106 McGuerty Road, being a portion of Tax Map 94, Parcel 82, described
in a deed recorded with the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds in Book 9429, page 212, with
such parcel to be under the care, custody, control and management the Conservation
Commission; to appropriate the total sum of THREE HUNDRED NINETY FIVE THOUSAND AND
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($395,500) to pay costs of the acquisition and costs incidental or
related thereto, of which THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
($300,500) shall be transferred from the Community Preservation Fund Open Space Reserve
and SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($70,000) shall be transferred from Water Enterprise Fund;
further, to transfer from Community Preservation Fund Open Space Reserve an additional sum
of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000) for the purpose of paying incidental and
related costs, including, without limitation, costs for appraisals, surveys, grant applications and
grant compliance; further, to authorize the Board of Selectmen and/or the Conservation
Commission to apply for, accept and expend any funds that may be provided by the
Commonwealth or other public or private sources to defray all or a portion of the costs of said
acquisition, including, but not limited to, grants and/or reimbursement from the
Commonwealth under the Self-Help Act, G.L. Ch. 132A, Section 11 (now, so-called LAND grants),
and the Federal Land and Water Fund grants, which grants and/or funds so received shall be
September 2020 40
September 2020 41
used to repay all or a portion of the sum transferred from the Community Preservation Fund
hereunder; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to grant to the Brewster Conservation
Trust or any other qualified organization a perpetual conservation and / or watershed
preservation restriction pursuant to the provisions of G.L. Ch. 184, Sections 31-33, in
compliance with G.L. Ch. 44B, Section12(a), protecting the property for the purposes for which
it is acquired, and to enter into all agreements and execute any and all instruments as may be
necessary or convenient to effectuate the foregoing purposes, or take any other action relative
thereto.
(Community Preservation Committee) (Two-Thirds Required)
COMMENT
This acquisition represents one of the last remaining large lots abutting the western boundary of
the Freeman’s Way wellfields and within the eastern District of Critical Planning Concern that
protects the Town’s wellfields. Aside from being 100% within the Zone 2 Contribution to Public
Water Supply, this property also falls 100% within BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape, is 100%
within the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) Priority
Habitat of Rare Species, and 100% within NHESP Estimated Habitat of Rare Wildlife.
The Board of Water Commissioners, Natural Resources Department, Conservation Commission,
Open Space Committee, Select Board and Town Administrator support this purchase, as does
the non-profit Brewster Conservation Trust (BCT). The Water Commissioners have voted to
contribute $70,000 towards this acquisition. The BCT has voted to contribute $30,000 towards
this purchase and will hold the required Conservation Restriction. The Town will also apply for a
State LAND grant. The BCT contribution along with any state LAND grant, expected to total
$193,000 if awarded, will reduce the amount of CPC Open Space funds needed to be expended
for this acquisition.
Selectmen: Yes 4, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 7, No 0, Abs 0
Community
Preservation:
Yes 7, No 0, Abs 0
CAPITAL AND SPECIAL PROJECTS EXPENDITURES
ARTICLE NO. 10: To see what sums the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer
from available funds for the capital outlay expenditures listed below, including, in each case, all
incidental and related costs, to be expended by the Town Administrator with the approval of
the Board of Selectmen, except School expenditures to be made by the School Superintendent
with the approval of the School Committee; authorize leases and lease purchase agreements
for more than three but not more than five years for those items to be leased or lease
purchased, and further that the Town Administrator with the approval of the Board of
Selectmen or School Superintendent with the approval of the School Committee for school
September 2020 42
items, be authorized to sell, convey, trade-in or otherwise dispose of equipment being
replaced, all as set forth below:
Department Item Funding Source(s) /
Appropriation or
Transfer
Amount
1 Select Board
a. Town Hall Upgrades &
Office Reconfiguration
Cost of Town Hall
facility upgrades & re-
configuring offices
General Fund Free
Cash
$10,000
b. Council on Aging Re-
insulation Project
Cost for re-insulating
portions of the Council
on Aging
General Fund Free
Cash
$30,000
c. Town Hall Generator
Project
Professional services
and costs for
purchasing and
installing new Town
Hall Generator,
including all related
materials and
equipment
General Fund Free
Cash
$50,000
d. Former Natural
Resource Garage
Professional Services
and costs related to
preparing property for
disposition
General Fund Free
Cash
$15,000
Sub-Total $105,000
2 Elementary School Department
a. Stony Brook Roof
Repairs
Costs for repairs to the
Stony Brook roof
General Fund Free
Cash
$15,000
b. Technology Upgrades
and Improvements
Ongoing information
system and equipment
improvements
including but not
limited to purchase of
desktop computers,
servers, productivity
and office software,
backup system, and
other
hardware/software,
switches and access
points for wi-fi at Eddy
and Stony Brook
Elementary Schools
General Fund Free
Cash
$65,000
September 2020 43
Department Item Funding Source(s) /
Appropriation or
Transfer
Amount
c. HVAC, Plumbing,
Electrical Maintenance &
Repairs
Professional services
and costs for upgrades,
repairs and
replacement of HVAC
plumbing and electrical
systems (equipment,
supplies and related
software/hardware) at
Eddy and Stony Brook
Elementary Schools
General Fund Free
Cash
$25,000
d. Exterior & Interior
Painting Project
Professional services
and costs for
interior/exterior
painting at Eddy and
Stony Brook
Elementary Schools
General Fund Free
Cash
$12,500
Sub-Total $117,500
3 Nauset Regional School District
a. Capital Plan Projects Professional services
and costs, including
procuring, engineering,
permitting, repair and
maintenance of
buildings, grounds, and
equipment within the
Nauset Middle School
and Nauset High
School
Raise and
appropriate
$262,138
Sub-Total $262,138
4 Natural Resources
a. Beach and Landing
Repairs &
Improvements
Professional services
and costs for repairs
and improvements to
various public beaches
and public landings
throughout town
General Fund Free
Cash
$30,000
Sub-Total $30,000
September 2020 44
Department Item Funding Source(s) /
Appropriation or
Transfer
Amount
5 Information Technology
a. Payroll and Human
Resources Software
Upgrade
Professional services
and costs related to
the purchase of
software, backup
systems and other
hardware/software for
a payroll and Human
Resources system
General Fund Free
Cash
$25,000
b. Regional Orthoimagery
and Planimetrics Project
Professional services
and costs related to
regional aerial
photography and GIS
data updates
General Fund Free
Cash
$10,043
c. Technology Upgrades
and Replacements
Professional Services
and costs related to
information system
and equipment
improvements
including but not
limited to purchase of
computers, servers,
productivity and office
software, backup
systems and other
hardware/software
General Fund Free
Cash
$15,000
Sub-Total $50,043
6 Water Department
a. Construction Account Costs for goods,
materials and services
to maintain and repair
the Town’s water
system
Water Receipts
Reserved for
Appropriation
$90,000
Sub-Total $90,000
September 2020 45
Department Item Funding Source(s) /
Appropriation or
Transfer
Amount
7 Department of Public Works
a. Tree Work Professional Services
tree work and/or
removal of trees that
are deemed a safety
hazard by the Public
Works Department
General Fund Free
Cash
$15,000
b. Road & Drainage Projects Professional services,
including engineering,
permitting and
construction costs, for
Town road
maintenance and
drainage projects
General Fund Free
Cash
$50,000
c. Irrigation Projects Professional services,
including engineering,
permitting and
construction costs, for
Town irrigation
projects
General Fund Free
Cash
$15,000
Sub-Total $80,000
8 Fire Department
a. Personal Protective
Equipment
Costs for purchase of
personal protective
equipment
Ambulance Receipts
Reserved for
Appropriation
$40,000
b. Vehicle Extrication
Equipment
Costs for purchase of
vehicle extrication
equipment
Ambulance Receipts
Reserved for
Appropriation
$50,000
c. Scheduling & Equipment
Maintenance Software
Costs for purchase of a
scheduling &
equipment
maintenance software
program
Ambulance Receipts
Reserved for
Appropriation
$15,000
Sub-Total $105,000
Grand Total $839,681
Or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
September 2020 46
COMMENT
1. BOARD OF SELECTMEN
1a. Town Hall Upgrades & Office Reconfiguration – These funds will be used to reconfigure
several office and meeting room spaces within Town Hall, including carpet, office furniture and
office equipment as well as to replace damaged and worn flooring.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
1b. Council on Aging Re-insulation Project – These funds will be used to re-insulate several
areas within the Council on Aging building, including but not limited to the attic space.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
1c. Town Hall Generator Project – Over the past several years, Town Hall has been closed or
had extended periods of down time due to the loss of power. These funds will allow for the
purchase and installation of a generator. This is essential to allow the town to continue to
conduct its business and serve the taxpayers until full power is restored.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
1d. Former Natural Resources Garage – These funds will be used to hire a consultant to
determine what actions the Town must take to prepare the building and grounds located at
1708 Main Street for disposition.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
2. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
2a. Stony Brook Roof Repairs – These funds will be used to make repairs to the Stony Brook
roof on an as needed basis.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
2b. Technology Upgrades and Improvements – These funds will be used to continue with the K-
5 technology plan for both Eddy and Stony Brook Elementary Schools; including replacing iPads,
computers, network printers and laptops, switches and access points for wi-fi.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
2c. HVAC, Plumbing, Electric Maintenance & Repairs – These funds will be utilized to make
repairs to the mechanical systems at both Elementary Schools as needed.
September 2020 47
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
2d. Exterior & Interior Painting – These funds will be utilized for Stony Brook and Eddy Schools
regularly scheduled interior and exterior painting.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
3. NAUSET REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
4a. Capital Plan Projects – The District is seeking funding in the amount of $262,138 which is an
assessment for the capital equipment and facilities budget for the Nauset Schools. This program
was originally approved by means of a Proposition 2 ½ Override question in May of 2005.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
4. NATURAL RESOURCES
4a. Beach and Landing Repairs – These funds will be used for improvements, maintenance, and
repairs at various Town Landings across Town, including sand nourishment, stairs, pathways,
interpretive signs, and other related needs.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
5. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
5a. Payroll and Human Resources Software Upgrade – The current software system that the
Town uses for processing payroll will no longer be supported by the provider as of December
31, 2020. This new system has improved functionality, updated capabilities, and is more
compatible with today’s payroll system needs.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
5b. Regional Orthoimagery and Planimetrics Project – Working with the Cape Cod Commission,
this regional initiative, last completed in 2014, updates aerial photography and related GIS data
to provide more accurate and up-to-date information to Town officials and residents regarding
assets, infrastructure, land use, and boundaries. This amount covers the Town’s share of the
total project cost.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
5c. Technology Upgrades and Replacements – This request provides funding for the purchase of
upgraded desktop computers, servers, productivity and office software, backup systems and
other hardware and software for departments throughout the Town. Computers and servers
September 2020 48
are replaced on a 3-5 year rotating schedule, and older machines are issued to users with less
intensive computer needs.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
6. WATER DEPARTMENT
6a. Construction Account – This request represents the annual appropriation for goods,
materials and services to maintain and repair the water system. It also includes water meters
for new services and replacement as required under State regulations. This account is part of
the department’s capital plan and is provided for within the present water rate structure.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
7. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
7a. Tree Work – Brewster has a number of dead and/or dying trees along roads and among our
public buildings and lands. These trees require the service of outside arborists who assist our
crews in removing hazardous trees.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
7b. Road and Drainage Projects – This request provides funding for the Town’s annual road and
drainage repair fund. This is an all-encompassing account used for road maintenance and to
repair local drainage issues, street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, and disposal of sweepings
and catch basin cleaning.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
7c. Irrigation Projects – This is also an all-encompassing account used for repair, replacement,
and maintenance cost of Town irrigation systems.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
8. FIRE DEPARTMENT
8a. Personal Protective Equipment – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets
specific standards regarding the number of years (10) a firefighter’s fire suppression ensemble
can remain in service. In order to ensure we follow these standards and provide our staff with
the highest level of protection during emergency incidents, we must systematically purchase
these items on an annual basis.
September 2020 49
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
8b. Vehicle Extrication Equipment (Jaws of Life) – New battery-operated technology has
allowed extrication equipment (cutters/spreaders/rams) to become lighter, stronger, more
mobile, and safer for firefighters to operate with limited staffing while removing entrapped
patients at motor vehicle accidents. The Fire Department applied for and received a $29,000
AFG Grant to replace older extrication equipment in July of 2020. The requested funds will
subsidize the balance of capital required to complete the project.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
8c. Scheduling & Equipment Maintenance Software – The scheduling software is new
technology that will reduce our reliance on paper documents, providing a rapid, easily
accessible, and functional method of filling shifts and managing the yearly work schedule. It will
also support the transition of our daily apparatus and equipment checks into a more secure
paperless environment.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
SPECIAL REVENUE FUND/Cable Franchise Fee Account
ARTICLE NO. 11: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the Cable Franchise Fee
Special Revenue Fund the sum of TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($200,000), for the
purpose of offsetting costs associated with providing local cable television related purposes, the
sum of including, but not limited to the general public purpose of supporting and promoting
public access to the Brewster cable television system; training in the use of local access
equipment and facilities; access to community, municipal and educational meeting coverage;
use and development of an institutional network and/or municipal information facilities;
contracting with local cable programming services providers and/or any other appropriate
cable related purposes, and including all incidental and related expenses, or to take any other
action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
Included within each resident’s cable bill is a line item to provide for the costs of local cable
television services. These monies are retained in a special revenue account and are used to
enhance local cable programming for the town’s public, education and government channels.
These funds will be used to continue these informational and educational services, and may
September 2020 50
include, but is not limited to, equipment purchases, contracted services, construction services,
and labor expenses.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
ACCEPTANCE OF GRANTS AND GIFTS
ARTICLE NO. 12: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen and
Elementary School Committee to apply for and accept any and all grants or gifts from Federal,
State, and local governments, charitable foundations, private corporations, and individual and
private entities, and to expend those funds for the purposes for which grants are authorized;
and to authorize the Treasurer, in anticipation of grant proceeds to borrow amounts under and
pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 7 or 8, or any other enabling
authority, or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
In any given year, Town Boards, Committees and Departments apply for a wide variety of grant
opportunities from Federal, State or private entities. Often these grants are reimbursable
programs, in which the Town must borrow the funds, complete the work, provide
documentation and then file for reimbursement. This annual authorization will provide the
Board of Selectmen with the tools to pursue these special opportunities in a timely manner.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 8, No 0, Abs 0
REPAIR AND RESURFACE TOWN ROADS/Chapter 90 Funds
ARTICLE NO. 13: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for
and accept State Grants from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway
Division (Chapter 90), and to expend those funds for the purposes of state approved Chapter 90
projects, services, and purchases; and to authorize the Treasurer, in anticipation of grant
proceeds to borrow amounts under and pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44,
Section 7 or 8, or any other enabling authority, or take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
The Chapter 90 Program was enacted in 1973, by the Commonwealth in order to provide
municipalities with reimbursement for documented expenditures under the provisions of
General Laws, Chapter 90 on approved road projects. The funding, provided from
Transportation Bond Issues, authorizes such improvement projects for highway construction,
preservation and improvement projects that create or extend the life of transportation
September 2020 51
facilities. These funds must be used in compliance with all applicable statutes and regulations,
as applicable for maintaining, repairing, improving and constructing Town ways which qualify
under the State Aid Highway guidelines adopted by the Massachusetts Public Works
Commission (MPWC). Funds must be allocated to roadway projects, such as resurfacing and
related work and other work incidental to the above such as preliminary engineering, right-of-
way acquisition, shoulders, side road approaches, landscaping and tree planting, roadside
drainage, structures, sidewalks, traffic control and service facilities, street lighting, and for such
other purposes as the MPWC may specifically authorize. The Town is required to appropriate
these monies as an available fund, and is then reimbursed by the State upon the completion of
the project and payment to the vendor. The anticipated amount of Chapter 90 funds from the
State for FY21 is $313,890, consistent with prior year actuals.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 8, No 0, Abs 0
GENERAL STABILIZATION FUND
ARTICLE NO. 14: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Free Cash the sum of ONE
MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) to the General Stabilization Fund pursuant to G.L. Ch. 40,
Section 5B, or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectman) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
A stabilization fund is a reserve account allowed by the State to set aside funds to be available
for future spending purposes, including emergencies. Pursuant to G.L Ch. 40, section 5B, the
Town established a General Stabilization Fund, with a current balance of $2.5M. The General
Stabilization Fund may be used to defray future operational shortfalls. Withdrawals from a
stabilization fund typically require a two-thirds vote of Town Meeting. This year, state
legislation allows appropriations from the stabilization fund by a two-thirds vote of the Board of
Selectmen. Although FY21 revenue projections have been reduced below historically
conservative levels, this appropriation is intended to give Town officials flexibility in responding
to potential further revenue reductions related to the pandemic and its impact on our local
economy. The Town of Brewster limits withdrawals from stabilization funds to mitigate
emergencies or other unanticipated events that cannot be supported by General Fund
appropriations and would severely impact services to the public.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
FIRE UNION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
ARTICLE NO. 15: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from
available funds a sum of money to be used to fund the cost items of the first fiscal year of the
September 2020 52
proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Town of Brewster and International
Association of Firefighters Local 3763, or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article will fund the costs associated with the contract settlement expenses between the
International Association of Firefighters Local 3763 and the Town. The current contract expired
on June 30, 2020, and the Town expects to agree to updated terms with the Union by Town
Meeting.
Selectmen: Recommendation
Deferred
Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
POLICE UNION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
ARTICLE NO. 16: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from
available funds a sum of money to be used to fund the cost items of the first fiscal year of the
proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Town of Brewster and Brewster Police
Union, Massachusetts Coalition of Police, Local 332, AFL-CIO, for a term effective July 1, 2020
through June 30, 2021, or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article will fund the costs associated with the contract settlement expenses between the
Police Union and the Town. The current contract expired on June 30, 2020, and the Town has
agreed to an extension with the Union.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
SEIU COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
ARTICLE NO. 17: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from
available funds a sum of money to fund the cost items of the first fiscal year of the proposed
Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Town of Brewster and Service Employees
International Union, Local 888, or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
September 2020 53
COMMENT
This article will fund the costs associated with the contract settlement expenses between the
Service Employees International Union, Local 888 (DPW, Water and Golf), and the Town. The
current contract expired on June 30, 2020, and the Town expects to agree to updated terms
with the Union by Town Meeting.
Selectmen: Recommendation
Deferred
Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
OPEIU COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
ARTICLE NO. 18: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from
available funds a sum of money to be used fund the cost items of the first fiscal year of the
proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Town of Brewster and Office and
Professional Employees International Union, Local 6, or to take any other action relative
thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article will fund the costs associated with the contract settlement expenses between the
Office and Professional Employees International Union, Local 6 and the Town. The current
contract expired on June 30, 2020, and the Town expects to agree to updated terms with the
Union by Town Meeting.
Selectmen: Recommendation
Deferred
Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
LADIES LIBRARY UNION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
ARTICLE NO. 19: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from
available funds a sum of money to be used to fund the cost items for the first fiscal year of the
proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Brewster Ladies Library Association
and the Service Employees International Union, Local 888, Brewster Library Employees, or to
take any other action relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article will fund the costs associated with the contract settlement expenses between the
Ladies Library Association and the Library Union. The current contract expired on June 30, 2020,
and the Town expects to agree to updated terms with the Union by Town Meeting.
September 2020 54
Selectmen: Recommendation
Deferred
Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
NON-UNION PERSONNEL WAGE FUNDING
ARTICLE NO. 20: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from
available funds a sum of money to fund wage and salary adjustments effective July 1, 2020 for
eligible and non-union employees dictated by the Compensation Plan developed pursuant to
the Personnel Bylaw, Section 36-4 of the Brewster Town Code, or to take any other action
relative thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT
This article will fund the costs associated with the wage adjustment for employees covered
under Personnel Bylaw Agreements and other non-union employees for fiscal year 2021.
Selectmen: Recommendation
Deferred
Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
TOWN CODE AMENDMENT/Placement of Articles
ARTICLE NO. 21: To see if the Town will vote to amend the Code of the Town of Brewster,
Chapter 48, by revising Section 10 by inserting the underlined text, as follows;
§ 48-10 Placement of articles.
The Town will address the placement of articles on the Town Meeting warrant by lottery on the
Town Meeting floor. All articles, excepting the Town's operating budget, the schools operating
budget, Capital and Special Project Expenditures, Community Preservation Articles, transfer
from Capital Stabilization fund, transfer from General Stabilization fund, the consent calendar
and debt obligation articles shall be placed in a "fish bowl" or other suitable container to be
drawn randomly by the Town Moderator, and each article shall be considered according to the
order in which it is drawn; provided, however, that articles deemed by the Moderator to be
substantively related and best acted upon together, or articles so identified in the warrant, may
in the Moderator’s discretion be treated as a single article for purposes of such drawing.
Or to take any other action related thereto.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
September 2020 55
COMMENT
The existing bylaw language, adopted in 1999, requires warrant articles to be drawn at random,
with the exception of operating budget articles and debt articles. Town Meeting now regularly
is asked to vote on measures that require significant appropriation of Town funds, including
Community Preservation Articles, the Town’s Capital and Special Projects articles, and
stabilization fund articles, which should similarly be exempt from the random drawing to
maximize resident participation in these expenditure decisions.
Selectmen: Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Yes 6, No 0, Abs 0
CITIZEN PETITON/Commercial Single-Use Plastic Water Bottle Ban
ARTICLE NO. 22: To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following as a general by-law and to
insert it into the Code of the Town of Brewster Massachusetts.
Section 1. Sale of Single-use Plastic Water Bottles
Effective on September 1, 2021, it shall be unlawful to sell non-carbonated, unflavored drinking
water in single-use plastic bottles of less than 1 gallon in the Town of Brewster. Enforcement of
this regulation will begin September 1, 2021.
Section 2. Definitions
A single-use plastic bottle is a beverage container made from any type of plastic resin.
Section 3. Exemptions
Sales or distribution of non-carbonated, unflavored drinking water in single-use plastic bottles
occurring subsequent to a declaration of emergency (by the Emergency Management Director
or other duly authorized Town, County, Commonwealth or Federal Official) affecting the
availability and/or quality of drinking water to residents of the Town shall be exempt from this
bylaw until seven days after the declaration has ended.
Section 4. Enforcement
Enforcement of this article shall be the responsibility of the Town Manager or his/her designee.
The Town Manager shall determine the inspection process to be followed, incorporating the
process into other Town duties as appropriate. Any establishment conducting sales in violation
of this article shall be subject to a non-criminal disposition fine as specified in G. L. Chapter 40 §
21D. The following penalties apply:
First violation: Written warning
Second violation: $150 fine
Third and subsequent violation: $300 fine
Each day a violation continues constitutes a separate violation, incurring additional fines. Any
such fines collected shall be payable to the Town of Brewster.
Rationale:
Single-use plastic bottles impact environmental health, and the health and longevity of other
species, who may ingest plastic as food. Ultimately, plastic re-enters the human food chain
where the adverse consequences are both know and emerging. Plastics pollute and impact our
environment across their lifecycle from production to use to disposal. Over 1,500 single-use
September 2020 56
plastic water bottles are used and discarded in the U.S. per second. Elimination of the use of
single-use plastic water bottles will have a significant impact on future plastic-based pollution
including the nation’s greenhouse gas footprint and is consistent with protection of the natural
environment in Brewster, Barnstable County, our nation and our earth, which we have a
common responsibility to protect and steward.
(Citizen Petition) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT (from Petitioner)
Single-use plastic bottles are made from non-renewable fuels, leach chemicals into
consumables, and do not biodegrade. Single-use plastic bottles impact environmental health,
and the health and longevity of other species, who may ingest plastic as food. Ultimately,
plastic re-enters the human food chain where the adverse consequences are both known and
emerging. Like plastic production, recycling single-use plastic affects environmental and human
health through emissions. Additionally, recycling single-use plastic is not a closed-loop process
and does not reduce the need to create virgin plastic for use in the production of single-use
plastic water bottles. Indeed, recycled plastic increases the presence of plastic in our
environment through plastic downcycling, a production term that references the use of
recycled plastic in other products from fabric to building materials. More than 1,500 single-use
plastic water bottles are used and discarded in the U.S. per second. Elimination of the use of
single-use plastic water bottles will have a significant impact on future plastic-based pollution
including the nation’s greenhouse gas footprint and is consistent with the protection of the
natural environment in Brewster, our nation, and our earth, which we have a common
responsibility to protect and steward.
Selectmen: Yes 4, No 1, Abs 0 Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
CITIZEN PETITON/5 Year Cost Estimate to Operate Dog Park
ARTICLE NO. 23: To see if the Town will direct the Board of Selectmen to require a 5-year
estimated administration, operations and maintenance plan with proposed budget, to include
the method and cost of addressing waste containment and disposal, to be presented to the
taxpayers before Town meeting may allocate any Town land for the development of a Dog Park;
or to take any other action relative thereto.
(Citizen Petition) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT (from Petitioner)
With the consent of the petitioners, this article will be held from consideration in this Town
Meeting. The Select Board has agreed to place this article on the next Town Meeting warrant,
with no further action required of the petitioners.
September 2020 57
It is poor fiscal policy to commit public land and resources to a construction project, particularly
for a facility that would collect and dispose of waste, without first having some future-cost
analysis performed and presented to taxpayers. Under Massachusetts public construction laws,
most public construction projects are required to define, or at least estimate, the on-going
operation and maintenance costs for the life of the facility. This is necessary to voters the true
picture of the fiscal commitment. Even donated services and materials need to be quantified,
so that in the donation falls-through or cannot be maintained, Town budgets or alternate
funding sources can be secured.
There are fewer than 1200 licensed dogs in Brewster. The Committee and the advocating Select
Board members have stated that they view this proposed park as an attraction, which implies
that it will draw a much greater number of dogs and dog waste, which presents an unquantified
liability. To date, neither the Committee nor the Select Board Advocates have provided any
estimates on the number of users, the volume of waste, the operational plans, the burden on
existing staff, the cyclical maintenance schedules, the periodic repairs, the ongoing
administration, or any of the responsibilities that would come with this project.
Instead, we are told that the construction could be paid for by others and that, so far, we would
be relying on donated bags and donated poo removal services form a private company. I
remind voters that when the Mutt Mitt Company ceased their donation of poo pick-up bags,
the Town found that cost prohibitive, and the sites where the donated dispenses were located
became foul and un-bearable. It was years before we were able to clean-up, restore and
reclaim those polluted parks and trails.
Select Board Advocates have implied that a cost analysis is somehow “impossible”, or “out-of-
sequence”, or “too late”. That is absurd. This work should have been done concurrent with the
design. Now that the Town has a materials and construction estimate, it would be very easy to
calculate multiple cost-planning scenarios. The only obvious reason for not doing the analysis is
fear that identification of all the costs and ongoing responsibilities will alarm taxpayers and
slow the project.
As evidenced through the two-year long Brewster Visioning effort, our citizens are aware, and
we are already observing mounting obligations in the form of school costs, deferred
maintenance, increasing public service demands, the desire for more services, and a new
Council on Aging/Community Center.
Our government has a duty to reveal all of the secret anticipated costs and responsibilities that
run with any public project, particularly a construction project of this magnitude, designed to
attract visiting and neighboring users and their dog waste to otherwise highly valuable land.
Town Meeting is the only body that can demand a full cost analysis when the administration
has not presented one. Please demand full disclosure. Thank you
Selectmen: Refer to Committee
Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0
Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
September 2020 58
CITIZEN PETITON/Climate Emergency and Net Zero Declaration
ARTICLE NO. 24: To see if the Town will vote to approve the following:
Be it resolved that the Town of Brewster recognizes that the climate emergency – driven by
human activity including fossil fuel consumption and land use practices leading to global
warming, rising seas, deadly storms, dangerous heat waves, acidifying oceans, and melting ice
sheets – poses a threat to the health, safety, and economic security of our residents, especially
our children and future generations, and to our natural resources.
The Town of Brewster therefore adopts the following policy objectives:
(1) Reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from human activity within and by the Town to
zero at the earliest technically and economically feasible time, and
(2) Reduce the Town’s vulnerability to climate change.
Further, the Town requests that the Select Board and Town Administration integrate these
priorities into their strategic planning efforts, direct all Town officers and departments to take
such measures within the scope of their respective responsibilities and authority as may be
necessary and prudent to facilitate such policy objectives, and actively engage the community
in moving these initiatives forward.
(Citizen Petition) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT (from Petitioner)
With the consent of the petitioners, this article will be held from consideration in this Town
Meeting. The Select Board has agreed to place this article on the next Town Meeting warrant,
with no further action required of the petitioners.
Some threats emerge rapidly, while others build slowly. This “Climate Emergency and Net Zero
Declaration” is an acknowledgement of current scientific knowledge and recent local
experience. Human activity is changing our climate. Our community is highly vulnerable to
severe storms, flooding, rising sea levels, shifting habitats, public safety threats, and economic
disruptions.
Brewster is taking important steps to adapt to climate change by identifying vulnerabilities and
increasing resiliency, including:
Achieving state “Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness” designation in 2019 to help alleviate
threats to public safety, property, roads, utilities, and neighborhoods.
Forming a new Natural Resources Commission in 2020 to help respond to change along our
coastline and safeguard ecosystems and the essential services they provide.
September 2020 59
While adaptation can help alleviate impacts, the latest research indicates that a broad,
coordinated effort to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 may represent the
world’s last chance for preventing the worst effects of climate change.
By preserving forests and other open space, Brewster continues to promote and enhance
carbon storage. Additional examples of climate mitigation measures by Brewster include:
Hosting solar power projects and buying renewable energy to meet municipal electricity
needs while saving tens of thousands of dollars annually.
Achieving state Green Communities designation in 2020, including a commitment to reduce
municipal energy use by 20% over the next 5 years.
Banning certain single-use plastics, adopting a stretch energy code for new buildings,
extending sidewalks, and adopting a “Complete Streets” policy.
Much more can be done, both across municipal operations and the community at large.
Priorities include promoting conservation and efficiency in buildings and transportation, moving
to renewable energy and clean fuel, improving resource management, and enhancing natural
carbon storage—all measures that can strengthen our economy and improve quality of life.
By passing this resolution, Brewster will join other Cape Cod towns—and a growing number of
communities around the world—in declaring a climate emergency. In addition, our elected
officials, town departments, boards, and committees will be empowered to proactively address
the climate crisis at the local level by engaging Brewster and its citizens, businesses, and other
stakeholders in implementing effective adaptation and mitigation measures.
Selectmen: Refer to Committee
Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0
Finance Committee: Yes 5, No 1, Abs 0
CITIZEN PETITION/Private Road Betterment
ARTICLE NO. 25: ARTICLE 157 – 9 and 157 – 20 Repair by Town. To see if the Town will vote,
regarding only the number of abutters who must sign a petition requesting a road Betterment,
to amend sections 9 and 20 of Article 157 as follows: Every instance of the words “more than
fifty percent,” “fifty percent plus one” or “majority” shall be replaced by the words “two-thirds”
66.7% rounded up to the next highest whole number,” or take any other action relative
thereto.
(Citizen Group) (Majority Vote Required)
COMMENT (from Petitioner)
With the consent of the petitioners, this article will be held from consideration in this Town
Meeting. The Select Board has agreed to place this article on the next Town Meeting warrant,
with no further action required of the petitioners.
September 2020 60
We realize that this process is a financing tool that the Town provides in order to ease the
financial burden for the costs of road reconstruction of folks living on private roads. However,
at the same time, it forces citizens to reprioritize where and how they will be spending their
money and removes their ability to decide on their own priorities. Everybody needs to prepare
for unexpected expenses but not expenses that they feel are unnecessary.
In the initial voting portion of the Betterment Process, those who vote yes have clearly
prioritized road improvement as a necessary expense. Those who vote no clearly feel that there
are other expenses that they feel have a higher priority. Road reconstruction is a huge expense
when compared to most home expense items so it does have a major impact. We do not feel
that a 50% plus one majority is enough support to trigger such an expense. This especially holds
true when a neighborhood is considered a subdivision and all roads treated equally.
Nobody should be told how to manage and use their discretionary funds. The Betterment
Process results in neighbors telling neighbors how and on what they will have to apply a good
portion of their funds. The result is that we have a seemingly positive financing tool negatively
impacting the sense of community within a neighborhood.
A two thirds vote is considered a Super Majority. By definition in Wikipedia, “A Supermajority in
a democracy can help to prevent a small majority from eroding fundamental rights of a large
minority.” This should be considered in your review of the Betterment By Law.
Selectmen: Refer to Committee
Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0
Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
TOWN CODE AMENDMENT/Private Road Betterment
ARTICLE NO. 26: To see if the Town will vote to amend the Code of the Town of Brewster,
Chapter 157, by revising Section 20, as shown below, with text to be deleted noted by
strikethrough and text to be inserted show in bold and underline, as follows;
§ 157-20 Repair by Town.
A.
In the event that a group of property owners who own property on a private road which has
been open for public use for at least five years wish the Town of Brewster to finance the repair
of their private way, they shall engage an engineer experienced in road construction and repair
who shall survey the road in question to develop a plan for the repair of that private road which
shall take into consideration the need for additional drainage, new berms, driveway aprons to
protect the edges of the repaired road, the filling of existing cracks and the application of one
or more layers of bituminous concrete.
September 2020 61
B.
The plan shall specify the projected useful life of the repaired private way, and in no event shall
the projected useful life be less than 15 years. All costs of preparing the plan, obtaining cost
estimates and preparing the petition described below shall be the exclusive responsibility of the
petitioners.
C.
After the plan has been prepared, the property owners' engineer shall secure at least three bids
from established contractors to complete the work outlined Iin the engineer's plan. After
receipt of the bids, the property owners shall prepare a petition to the Select Board for the
Town of Brewster to finance the work in an amount certain, including a ten-percent
contingency amount. The petition shall list the parcels by lot number and map number together
with the owners' names of record with a space for each owner to place his or her signature. The
petition must state that each signature represents an irrevocable agreement by each signatory
to repay to the Town of Brewster, through the mechanism of a betterment added to each
owner's real estate tax bill, his or her pro-rata share of the total amount to be financed plus
interest and administrative costs, which Town administrative costs shall not exceed 4% of the
project. The petition shall not be presented to the Selectmen unless 50% of all the abutters to
the road plus one more abutter shall have agreed to the project and its financial commitment
by having signed it.
D.
The petition, accompanied by the engineer's plan, a map of the private way to be repaired and
backup for the cost estimates shall be submitted to the Selectmen's Office on or before
November 30. The Selectmen shall refer every such petition to the Assessor's Office for
verification of signatures and confirmation that more than 50% of abutters have signed. The
Selectmen shall consider all submitted petitions that pass the Assessor's examination prior to
December 31. If the Selectmen determine that the proposed repairs are in the public interest
and if the Selectmen determine that these repairs are within the financial capability of the
Town, the Select Board shall refer each petition so determined to the Planning Board which
shall conduct a public hearing on each petition on or before February 28 to evaluate the plan,
examine the cost estimates and hear from both the abutters and the general public. The
Planning Board shall either endorse the plan by a simple majority vote and return it to the
Selectmen, recommend changes in costs or scope of the plan or disapprove the plan by a
simple majority vote.
E.
If the Planning Board approves any such plan, the Select Board may place the plan on the
warrant for the next Annual any special or annual Town Meeting. If the Planning Board
suggests modifications or changes in scope of costs, the Select Board may, at its option, send
out proxies to the abutters noting scope and cost changes or it may return the project to the
petitioners. If proxies are sent out, they must be returned at least 45 days prior to by March 31
if the project is to be considered at the Annual Town Meeting at which they are to be
considered. If the proxies are returned by March 31 within such time, the Selectmen may place
September 2020 62
the project on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, provided that more than 50% of the abutters
approve the revisions. Long-term financing may be issued for said project by the Town for up to
a fifteen-year period.
F.
If the Annual Town Meeting votes to endorse and finance the project, the engineer who did the
original plan shall be named "Project Manager." He shall prepare a new request for quotations
with the bids to be directed to the Town Administrator. The Project Manager and the Town
Administrator shall select the best bid to do the work. The Project Manager shall advise the
Superintendent of Public Works 48 hours in advance of each phase of the project and certify, in
writing, to the Superintendent of Public Works that each phase of the work has been
completed to the Project Manager's satisfaction. The Superintendent of Public Works shall
inspect the completed work and certify to the Town Accountant that the work is completed so
that payment can be made.
G. For a group of private roads within a subdivision in which membership in a neighborhood
property owners' association is automatic or mandatory, the same procedure shall be used for
any petition filed on or after July 1, 2019, provided that:
(1) So long as a majority of the owners of the lots abutting the group of private ways to
be repaired signs the petition required by Subsection B above. Where a lot has frontage
on, and derives access from, more than one group of roads, the owner of such lot shall
be entitled to only one vote. Owners of lots that are assessed as unbuildable and lots
that may not be built upon pursuant to a deed restriction, conservation restriction or
other recorded instrument shall not be entitled to vote, and such lots shall not be
subject to betterment assessments hereunder.; and
(2) So long as the group of private ways to be repaired is owned or controlled, directly
or indirectly, by the neighborhood association or its members.
H.
The Town of Brewster shall incur no liability for any damages of any nature whatsoever arising
from the project by virtue of the Town's agreeing to finance any repair of a private subdivision
way. The abutters who accept Town financing shall be deemed to have indemnified and held
the Town harmless against any and all such claims.
I.
Any private way improved under the provisions of this bylaw need not be brought up to full
Town road standards. Any private way improved under the provisions of this bylaw shall
continue to remain a private way.
(Board of Selectmen) (Majority Vote Required)
September 2020 63
COMMENT
This article is substantively related to article 25, Citizen Petition/Private Road Betterment and
will be held from consideration in this Town Meeting. It will be placed on the next Town Meeting
Warrant.
This article is intended to give residents the ability to bring private road betterment petitions to
either Annual or Special Town Meeting. This change is being proposed based on Town Meeting
turnout data over the past 15+ years. The article also seeks to both clarify how betterment
petition votes for certain lots are calculated and memorialize past practice in how
neighborhood betterment project votes are calculated. This betterment procedure may be
utilized by residents, many of whom live on private ways, interested in undertaking repairs to
this critical infrastructure.
This articles is substantively related to article 25, Citizen Petition/Private Road Betterment and
will be treated as a single article for purposes of drawing the articles at Town Meeting.
Selectmen: Refer to Committee
Yes 5, No 0, Abs 0
Finance Committee: Recommendation
Deferred
September 2020 64
You are hereby directed to serve this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at
the time and place of said meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hand and Seal of the Town of Brewster affixed this __th day of August 2020.
___________________________________
Mary W. Chaffee, Chair
___________________________________
Benjamin W. deRuyter, Vice Chair
___________________________________
Cynthia A. Bingham, Clerk
___________________________________
David C. Whitney
___________________________________
Edward B. Chatelain
I, Roland W. Bassett Jr, duly qualified Constable for the Town of Brewster, hereby certify that I
served the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of September 12, 2020 by posting attested
copies thereof, in the following locations in the Town on the __th day of August 2020.
Brewster Town Offices
Café Alfresco
Brewster Ladies Library Brewster Pizza House
The Brewster General Store Millstone Liquors
U. S. Post Office
_________________________________
Roland W. Bassett, Jr. Constable
September 2020 65
MODERATOR’S RULES REGARDING TOWN MEETING
Priority shall be given to registered voters of the town for admission to all town meetings, whether
annual or special meetings. Therefore, the following rules shall apply:
1. Prior to admission to the hall, persons desiring admission shall check in with the
Registrars of Voters, who will be present at the main entrance with voter registration lists.
2. Non-voters, who desire to be present, will be seated in the area designated as the non -
voter section. If voters present need seating, then the non-voters will have to leave the
meeting hall.
3. Non-voters will not address the town meeting without the unanimous consent of all
voters present and will not participate in voting.
TOWN MEETING PROCEDURE
THE MODERATOR has absolute control of the town meeting.
GENERAL LAWS CHAPTER 39 SECTION 15: The Moderator shall preside and regulate the
proceedings, decide all questions of order, and make public declaration of all votes. The Moderator
recognizes speakers from the floor, and while they are speaking allows no interruptions except when
a point of order is raised.
WHEN A VOTER WISHES TO SPEAK he may rise, say, "Mr. Moderator," and wait for recognition.
Then, with the microphone, please give your name. The voter may continue with due regard to
reasonable brevity, as long as he speaks directly to the question under discussion.
THERE WILL BE NO SMOKING OR STANDING in the meeting hall.
ANYTIME THE MOTION TO BE VOTED ON IS UNCLEAR, ask the Moderator before voting.
VOTERS WILL PLEASE HOLD THEIR BREWSTER VOTER TAG in their right hand, so that the tellers
when counting hand votes will count them.
NO PERSON IS TO INDULGE IN PERSONALITIES OR DEROGATORIES . Let us maintain decorum and
reason together.
MOTIONS
MAIN MOTIONS are always on articles in the town warrant. They are made, seconded, and then
opened for consideration.
SECONDARY MOTIONS are motions which refer to main motions. Secondary motions usually amend,
postpone, or limit consideration.
AMENDMENTS may be offered by any voter to the motion under discussion, provided the scope of
the original motion is not enlarged or altered. Amendments are seconded and discussed; they
require a majority vote to carry (pass). An amendment need not be voted upon, if the proposed
change is agreeable to the proponents of original motion. Voters must submit amendments in legible
writing.
September 2020 66
POSTPONE
TO REFER TO COMMITTEE "COMMIT" if changes in a main motion are numerous, take too much time,
or require additional information, it is wise to commit the article to a committee. This secondary
motion should specify which board or committee. If proposing a new committee, specify how many
members, how appointments are to be made and when the committee should report.
POSTPONE TO A DEFINITE TIME: defers action on a main motion to a stated hour, usually during
the meeting. At the hour specified, it is returned to the floor when a motion is made that the
deferred article be considered.
"LAY ON TABLE" intends to temporarily lay aside an article. Not debatable; two-thirds vote
carries. An article not taken from table before the meeting adjourns is dead. To be considered at
a subsequent meeting, it must reappear in the warrant for that meeting.
"TAKE NO ACTION" "PASS OVER" "POSTPONE INDEFINITELY" are debatable motions and require
majority vote. The intent is to defeat the motion.
LIMIT CONSIDERATION
LIMIT DEBATE. This secondary motion requests a vote to be taken at a specific time. Requires a 2/3
majority vote.
"MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION" demands an immediate vote on any motion under consideration
without further debate on the motion. May not be debated or amended. Requires 2/3 vote to carry.
If it carries, we vote on the main motion that we voted to end the debate on.
POINT OF ORDER
IF A VOTER QUESTIONS THE LEGALITY or propriety of the proceedings, he may rise, interrupt the
speaker and say, "Mr. Moderator, I rise to a point of order" or "question of privilege."
VOTES ON MAIN MOTIONS
Usually majority of those attending carries (passes).
EXCEPTIONS
2/3 MAJORITY VOTE REQUIRED borrowing of money appropriations for land purchases; land
purchase for public domain; sale or abandonment of unneeded land; abandonment of projects
for which money has been borrowed; appropriation for celebration of settlement or
incorporation; zoning bylaws.
4/5 USUALLY REQUIRED payment of a bill for which insufficient appropriations made in a previous
year, at the annual town meeting. A 9/10 vote is required at a special town meeting.
POSTPONE INDEFINITELY requires a majority vote, may be debated, and may not interrupt the
speaker.
September 2020 67
Appendix H
GLOSSARY OF FINANCIAL TERMS
1. Appropriation – An authorization granted by a legislative body to make expenditures and to
incur obligations for specific purposes. An appropriation is usually limited in amount and as to
the time when it may be expended. Only town meeting can authorize money appropriated for
one purpose to be used for another. Any amount that is appropriated may be encumbered (see
encumbrance). Any part of an annual operating appropriation not spent or encumbered by June
30 automatically reverts to the undesignated fund balance that may result in free cash. If
departments know of remaining unpaid bills at the close of the fiscal year and properly notifies
the Town Accountant (MGL Ch. 41 ss. 58), the departmental appropriation is encumbered. This
action extends the annual spending authorization until such time that the bill is paid or it is
decided not to spend the funds. If these encumbrances are not acted on within ninety days, the
Town Accountant generally notifies the department and closes them out. A special purpose
appropriation, on the other hand, may carry forward from year to year until spent for the
designated purpose or transferred by town meeting vote to another account.
2. Audit – An examination of systems, procedures, and financial data by a certified public
accountant, reporting on the fairness of financial statements and compliance with statutes and
regulations. The audit is a valuable management tool for evaluating the fiscal performance of a
community.
3. Available Funds – Funds established through previous appropriations or resulting from
financial operations. They may be appropriated to meet unforeseen expenses, or large non-
recurring or capital expenditures. Examples include free cash, stabilization fund, overlay surplus,
water surplus, and enterprise retained earnings.
4. Betterments (Special Assessments) – Whenever a limited area of a community receives
benefit from a public improvement (e.g., water, road, sewer, sidewalk, etc.), special property
taxes may be assessed to reimburse the governmental entity for all or part of the costs it incurred.
Each parcel receiving benefit from the improvement is assessed for a proportionate share of the
cost of such improvements. The proportionate share may be paid in full, or the property owner
may request the assessors to apportion the betterment over a period of up to 20 years. Over the
lifetime of the betterment, one year’s apportionment along with one year’s committed interest
computed from October 1 to October 1 is added to the tax bill until the betterment has been
paid.
5. Bond – A written promise to pay a specified sum of money, called the face value (par value) or
principal amount, at a specified date in the future, called the maturity date, together with
periodic interest at a specified rate. The difference between a note and a bond is that the latter
runs for a longer period of time.
6. Bond Anticipation Note (Ban) – A short-term note to provide cash for initial project costs
issued in anticipation of bond proceeds. BANs may be issued for a period not to exceed five
years, provided principal repayment begins after two years. Communities with approved
projects on the School Building Assistance (SBA) priority list may defer principal payments up to
five years (approved annually in outside sections of the budget). The final maturity date of the
project borrowing, beginning from the date the short-term note was issued, may not exceed the
term specified by statute. BANs are full faith and credit obligations.
September 2020 68
7. Bond Authorized And Unissued – Bond authorized but not yet sold. Issuance is contingent
only on action by the Town Treasurer and a majority of the Board of Selectmen.
8. Bond Counsel – An attorney or law firm engaged to review and submit an opinion on the legal
aspects of a municipal bond or note issue.
9. Bond Issue – Generally represents the sale of a certain number of bonds at one time by a
governmental unit.
10. Bond Rating (Municipal) – A credit rating to help investors determine the risk of losing money
in a given fixed-income investment. Agencies specializing in municipal bonds assign a rating,
designated by letters or a combination of letters and numerals, based on their opinion of the
future ability, legal obligation, and willingness of a bond issuer to make timely debt service
payments.
11. Budget – A plan of financial operation embodying an estimate of proposed revenues and
expenditures for a given period and the proposed means of financing them. A budget may be
“preliminary” (the financial plan presented to the town meeting), or “final” (the plan approved
by that body). The budget should be separated into basic units, either by department, program,
or service. Formatting the budget in this way helps local officials and citizens make policy
decisions when allocating scarce resources. It is also important to include as much information
as possible concerning the output or accomplishments expected of a given program or
department during the year.
12. Capital Improvements Program – A comprehensive plan for planning a community’s capital
expenditures. It coordinates community planning, fiscal capacity and physical development.
While all of the community’s needs should be identified in the program, there is a set of criteria
that prioritizes the expenditures. The capital program is a plan for capital expenditures that
usually extends at least five years beyond the capital budget.
13. Capital Outlay Expenditure Exclusion – A vote by a community at an election to exclude
payments for a capital project from the levy limit. The exclusion may temporarily increase the
levy above the levy ceiling.
14. Cash – Currency, coin, checks and bankers’ drafts on hand or on deposit with an official or
agent designated as custodian of cash and bank deposits.
15. Cash Management – The process of managing a local government’s money in order to ensure
maximum cash availability and maximum yield on short-term investment of idle cash.
16. Cemetery Perpetual Care – Funds donated by individuals for the care of gravesites. According
to MGL, funds from this account must be invested and spent as directed by perpetual care
agreements. If no agreements exist, the interest (but not principal) may be used as directed by
the Cemetery Commissioners for the purpose of maintaining cemeteries.
17. Chapter 90 Highway Funds – The state legislature authorizes and issues transportation capital
bonds every few years. In each Transportation Bond, funds are apportioned to communities
based upon a formula under the provisions of MGL Ch. 90 ss. 34, hence the terms Chapter 90
funds. The Chapter 90 highway formula is comprised of three variables: local road mileage as
certified by the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD), employment figures from the
Department of Employment and Training (DET), and population estimates from the U. S. Census
Bureau. Under this formula, those communities with a larger number of road miles receive
proportionately more aid than those with fewer road miles. These funds are reimbursed to
communities based upon certified expenditure reports submitted to MHD.
September 2020 69
18. Cherry Sheets – Named for the cherry colored paper on which they were originally printed,
the Cherry Sheets are the official notification of the next fiscal year’s state aid and assessments
to communities and regional school districts from the Commissioner of Revenue. State aid to
municipalities and regional school districts consist of two major types – distributions and
reimbursement. Distributions provide funds based on formulas while reimbursements provide
funds for costs incurred during a period for certain programs or services. In addition,
communities may receive “offset items” that must be spent on specific programs. Cherry Sheet
assessments are advance estimates of state assessments and charges. Local assessors are
required to use these figures in setting the local tax rate. Because these figures are estimates, it
should be noted that based upon filing requirements and/or actual information, the final aid or
assessment may differ.
19. Cherry Sheet Offset Items – Local aid accounts that may be spent without appropriation in
the budget, but which must be spent for specific municipal and regional school district programs.
Current offset items include racial equality grants, school lunch grants, and public libraries grants.
20. Collective Bargaining – The negotiations between an employer and union representative
regarding wages, hours, and working conditions.
21. Conservation Fund – This fund may be expended for lawful conservation purposes as
described in MGL Ch. 40 ss. 8C. It may also be expended for damages related to the taking of
land by eminent domain provided that such taking has first been approved by two-thirds vote of
town meeting.
22. Contingent Appropriation – An appropriation that authorizes spending for a particular
purpose upon the occurrence of a later event. The grant of spending authority made by an
appropriation must be certain at the time of the vote and, therefore, contingent appropriations
are not generally permissible. Under MGL Ch. 59 ss. 21C(m), however, towns may make
appropriations from the tax levy, available funds or borrowing, contingent upon the subsequent
passage of a Proposition 2-½ override or exclusion question for the same purpose.
23. Debt Authorization – Formal approval by a two-thirds vote of town meeting to incur debt, in
accordance with procedures stated in MGL Ch. 44.
24. Debt Exclusion – A vote by a municipality at an election to exclude debt service payments for
a particular capital project form the levy limit. The amount necessary to cover the annual debt
service payment is added to the levy limit for the life of the debt only. A debt exclusion may
temporarily increase the levy above the levy ceiling.
25. Debt Limit – The maximum amount of debt that a municipality may have authorized for
qualified purposes under state law.
26. Debt Service – The cost usually stated in annual terms, of the principal repayment and
interest of any particular issue.
27. Deficit – The excess of expenditures over revenues during an accounting period. Also refers
to the excess of the liabilities of a fund over its assets.
28. Education Reform Act Of 1993 – An act that seek to remedy educational funding inequities
between local communities by providing adequate state funding over a seven year period for all
local and regional school districts and by mandating equity based upon a particular community’s
ability to pay. One of the Act’s major goals is to improve student achievement.
29. Eminent Domain – The power of a government to take property for public purposes by
condemnation provided that fair compensation is paid to the owner. This method is frequently
September 2020 70
used to obtain real property that cannot be purchased from owners by means of a voluntary
transaction.
30. Encumbrance – Obligations in the form of purchase orders, contracts, or salary commitments
that are chargeable to an appropriation and for which a part of the appropriations is reserved.
31. Enterprise Fund - Those funds which are established for specific uses under M.G.L. c.44,
§53F1/2 that require an annual appropriation to operate (i.e. The Brewster Water Department).
Enterprise fund revenue streams are segregated from the general fund into a separate fund and
available as a separate financing source for services that generate, or for purposes supported by,
those revenues. These include the revenues of enterprise funds established for services typically
financed and delivered in a manner similar to private enterprises for the purpose of accounting
for all costs, direct or indirect, of providing the services.
32. Estimated Receipts – An estimate of state and local miscellaneous receipts based upon the
previous year’s receipts that assessors deduct from the gross amount to be raised in order to
arrive at the tax levy.
33. Excess And Deficiency – Also called the “surplus revenue” account, this is the amount by
which cash, accounts receivable, and other assets exceed a regional school district’s liabilities and
reserves as certified by the Director of Accounts. The calculation is made based upon the balance
sheet that is submitted by the district’s auditor, accountant, or comptroller as of June 30. The
regional school committee must apply certified amounts exceeding five percent of the district’s
prior year operating and capital costs to reduce the assessment on member cities and towns.
34. Excess Levy Capacity – The difference between the levy limit and the amount of real and
personal property taxes actually levied in a given year. Annually, the Board of Selectmen must
be informed of excess levy capacity and their acknowledgment must be submitted to the
Department of Revenue when setting the tax rate.
35. Fiscal Year – Since 1974, the Commonwealth and municipalities have operated on a budget
cycle that begins July 1 and ends June 30. The designation of the fiscal year is that of the calendar
year in which the fiscal year ends. For example, the 2000 fiscal year is July 1, 1999 to June 30,
2000 and is usually written as FY2000. Since 1976, the federal government has had a fiscal year
that begins October 1 and ends September 30.
36. Fixed Costs – Costs that are legally or contractually mandated such as retirement, FICA/Social
Security, insurance, debt service or interest costs.
37. Foundation Budget – The target imposed by the Education Reform Act of 1993 for each
school district, defining the spending level necessary to provide an adequate education for all
students.
38. Free Cash – Unrestricted funds from operations of the previous fiscal year that are certified
by the Director of Accounts as available for appropriation. Remaining funds include unexpended
free cash from the previous year, receipts in excess of estimates shown on the tax recapitulation
sheet, and unspent amounts in budget line-items. Unpaid property taxes and certain deficits
reduce the amount that can be certified as free cash. The calculation of free cash is based upon
the balance sheet as of June 30, which is submitted by the Town Accountant. A community
should maintain a free cash balance to provide a hedge against unforeseen expenditures and to
ensure there will be an adequate reserve to prevent sharp fluctuations in the tax rate.
Maintenance of an adequate free cash level is not a luxury but a necessary component of sound
local fiscal management. Credit rating agencies and other members of the financial community
September 2020 71
expect municipalities to maintain free cash reserves and make judgments regarding a
community’s fiscal stability, in part, on the basis of free cash.
39. Fund – An accounting entity with a self-balancing set of accounts that are segregated for the
purpose of carrying on specific activities or attaining certain objectives in accordance with
specific regulations, restrictions, or limitations.
40. Fund Accounting – Organizing the financial records of a municipality into multiple funds. A
fund is a distinct entity within the municipal government in which financial resources and activity
(assets, liabilities, fund balances, revenues and expenditures) are accounted for independently
in accordance with specific regulations, restrictions and limitations. Examples of funds include
the general fund and enterprise funds.
41. General Fund – The fund used to account for most financial resources and activities governed
by the normal town meeting appropriation process.
42. General Obligation Bonds – Bonds issued by a municipality that are backed by the full faith
and credit of its taxing authority.
43. Hotel/Motel Excise – A local option since 1985 that allows a community to assess a tax on
room occupancy. The community may levy up to 4% of the taxable rents of hotels, motels and
lodging houses in that community.
44. Indirect Cost – Costs of a service not reflected in the service’s operating budget. An example
of an indirect cost of providing water service would be health insurance costs for water
department employees. A determination of these costs is necessary to analyze the total cost of
service delivery and a Mutual Agreement for reporting and paying indirect costs is required
between the Select Board and respective Department / Committee.
45. Interest – Compensation paid or to be paid for the use of money, including amounts payable
at periodic intervals or discounted at the time a loan is made.
46. Interest Rate – The interest payable, expressed as a percentage of the principal available, for
use during a specified period of time. It is always expressed in annual terms.
47. Law Enforcement Trust Fund – A revolving fund established to account for a portion of the
proceeds from the sale of property seized from illegal drug-related activities. Funds may be
expended to defray certain qualified law enforcement costs as outlined in MGL Ch. 94C ss. 47.
Funds from this account may be expended by the Police Chief without further appropriation.
48. Levy – The amount a community raises through the property tax. The levy can be any amount
up to the levy limit.
49. Levy Ceiling – The maximum levy assessed on real and personal property may not exceed 2
½ percent of the total full and fair cash value of all taxable property (MGL Ch. 59 ss. 21C).
Property taxes levied may exceed this limit only if the community passes a capital exclusion, a
debt exclusion, or a special exclusion.
50. Levy Limit – The maximum amount a community can levy in a given year. The limit can grow
each year by 2 ½ percent of the prior year’s levy limit plus new growth and any overrides. The
levy limit can exceed the levy ceiling only if the community passes a capital expenditure exclusion,
debt exclusion, or special exclusion.
51. Line-Item Budget – A budget that focuses on inputs of categories of spending, such as
supplies, equipment, maintenance, or salaries, as opposed to a program budget.
52. Local Aid – Revenue allocated by the commonwealth to cities, towns, and regional school
districts. Estimates of local aid are transmitted to cities, towns, and districts annually by the
September 2020 72
“Cherry Sheets”. Most Cherry Sheet aid programs are considered revenues of the municipality’s
or regional school districts’ general fund and may be spent for any purpose, subject to
appropriation.
53. Local Receipts – Locally generated revenues, other than real and personal property taxes and
enterprise fund revenues. Examples include motor vehicle excise, investment income,
hotel/motel tax, fees, rentals, and charges. Annual estimates of local receipts are shown on the
tax rate recapitulation sheet.
54. Motor Vehicle Excise (Mve) – Every motor vehicle and trailer registered in the
Commonwealth is subject to the MVE unless expressly exempted. MVE is imposed for the
privilege of registering a motor vehicle. Registering a motor vehicle automatically triggers the
assessment of the excise.
55. Municipal(S) – Municipal refers to any state or subordinate governmental unit. “Municipals”
(i.e., municipal bonds) include not only the bonds of all local subdivisions, such as cities, towns,
school districts, special districts, but also bonds of the state and agencies of the state.
56. Municipal Revenue Growth Factor (Mrgf) – An estimate of the percentage change in a
municipality’s revenue growth for a fiscal year. It represents the combined percentage increase
in the following revenue components; automatic 2 ½ percent increase in the levy limit, estimated
new growth, the change in selected unrestricted state aid categories, and the change in selected
unrestricted local receipts (Education Reform Act of 1993).
57. Net School Spending (Nss) – School budget and municipal budget amounts attributable to
education, excluding long-term debt service, student transportation, school lunches and certain
other specified school expenditures. A community’s NSS funding must equal or exceed the NSS
Requirement established annually by the Department of Education (DOE) (Education Reform Act
of 1993).
58. New Growth – The taxing capacity added by new construction and other increases in the
property tax base. New growth is calculated by multiplying all increases in value which are not
the result of revaluation by the tax rate of the previous fiscal year, for example, FY2000 new
growth is determined by multiplying the value on January 1, 1999 by the FY1999 tax rate.
Assessors must submit documentation of new growth to the BLA annually before setting the tax
rate. Documentation should be retained for five years in the event of a BLA audit.
59. Operating Budget – A plan of proposed expenditures for personnel, supplies, and other
expenses for the coming fiscal year.
60. Overlay – (Overlay Reserve or Allowance for Abatements and Exemptions). An account
established annually to fund anticipated property tax abatements, exemptions and uncollected
taxes in that year. The overlay reserve is not established by the normal appropriation process,
but rather is raised on the tax rate recapitulation sheet.
61. Overlay Surplus – Any balance in the overlay account in excess of the amount remaining to
be collected or abated can be transferred into this account. Within ten days of a written request
by the chief executive officer of a city or town, the Board of Assessors must provide a certification
of the excess amount of overlay available to transfer. Overlay surplus may be appropriated for
any lawful purpose. At the end of each fiscal year, unused overlay surplus is “closed” to surplus
revenue.
September 2020 73
62. Override – A vote by a community at an election to permanently increase the levy limit. An
override vote may increase the levy limit no higher than the levy ceiling. The override question
on the election ballot must state a purpose for the override and the dollar amount).
63. Override Capacity – The difference between a community’s levy ceiling and its levy limit. It
is the maximum amount by which a community may override its levy limit.
64. Payments In Lieu Of Taxes – An agreement between a municipality and an entity not subject
to taxation, such as charitable or educational organizations, in which the payer agrees to make a
voluntary payment to the municipality. By law, a city or town must make such payment to any
other community in which it owns land used for public purposes.
65. Proposition 2 ½ - M.G.L. c.59, §21C was enacted in 1980 and limits the amount of revenue a
city or town may raise from local property taxes each year. This amount is the community’s
annual levy limit. The law allows the levy limit to increase each year by 2.5% plus any new growth
revenue derived from taxes from new construction and alterations. This amount may not exceed
the community’s levy ceiling. Proposition 2 ½ also established two types of voter approved
increases in local taxing authority – overrides and exclusions.
66. Receipts Reserved – Proceeds that are earmarked by law and placed in separate accounts for
appropriation for particular purposes. For example, parking meter proceeds may be
appropriated to offset certain expenses for parking meters and the regulation of parking and
other traffic activities.
67. Reserve Fund – An amount set aside annually within the budget of a city (not to exceed 3%
of the tax levy for the preceding year) or town (not to exceed 5% of the tax levy for the preceding
year) to provide a funding source for extraordinary or unforeseen expenditures. In a town, the
Finance Committee can authorize transfers from this fund for “extraordinary or unforeseen”
expenditures. Other uses of the fund require budgetary transfers by town meeting.
68. Revenue Anticipation Borrowing – Cities, towns and districts may issue temporary notes in
anticipation of taxes (TAN’s) or other revenue (RAN’s). The amount of this type of borrowing is
limited to the total of the prior year’s tax levy, the net amount collected in motor vehicle and
trailer excise in the prior year and payments made by the Commonwealth in lieu of taxes in the
prior year. According to MGL Ch. 44 ss. 4, cities, towns and districts may borrow for up to one
year in anticipation of such revenue.
69. Revenue Anticipation Note (Ran) – A short-term loan issued to be paid off by revenues, such
as tax collections and state aid. RANs are full faith and credit obligations.
70. Revenue Bond – A bond payable from and secured solely by specific revenues and thereby
not a full faith and credit obligation.
71. Revolving Fund – Allows a community to raise revenues from a specific service and use those
revenues without appropriation to support the service. For departmental revolving funds, MGL
Ch 44 ss. 52E ½ requires each revolving fund must be established by ordinance or charter and
stipulates that each fund must be re-authorized each year at annual town meeting action, and
that a limit on the total amount that may be spent form each fund must be established at that
time. The aggregate of all revolving funds may not exceed ten percent of the amount raised by
taxation by the town in the most recent fiscal year, and not more than one percent of the amount
raised by taxation may be administered by a single fund. Wages and salaries for full-time
employees may be paid from the revolving fund only if the fund is also charged for all associated
fringe benefits. Revolving funds for other programs as provided by statute are still allowed, and
September 2020 74
a departmental revolving fund may be implemented in addition to or in conjunction with other
existing statutory revolving funds, provided that the departmental revolving fund does not
conflict with provisions of other revolving funds.
72. Sale Of Cemetery Lots Fund – A fund established to account for proceeds of the sale of
cemetery lots. The proceeds may only be appropriated to pay for the cost of the land, its care
and improvement or the enlargement of the cemetery under provisions of MGL Ch. 144 ss. 15.
73. Stabilization Fund – A fund designed to accumulate amounts for capital and other future
spending purposes, although it may be appropriated for any lawful purpose. Communities may
appropriate into this fund in any year an amount and any interest shall be added to and become
a part of the fund. A two-thirds vote of town meeting is required to appropriate money from the
Stabilization Fund.
74. State Aid Anticipation Note (Saan) – A short-term loan issued in anticipation of a state grant
or aid (MGL Ch. 44 ss. 6A).
75. State House Notes – Debt instruments for cities, towns, counties and districts certified by the
Director of Accounts. State House Notes, payable annually, are usually limited to maturities of
five years. The notes are generally less costly and easier to issue than conventional issues for
borrowing. They are commonly used for temporary loans and smaller long-term issues.
76. Tax Rate – The amount of property tax stated in terms of a unit of the municipal tax base; for
example, $14.80 per $1,000 of assessed valuation of taxable real and personal property.
77. TAX RATE RECAPITULATION SHEET (Also Recap Sheet) – A document submitted by a city or
town to the Department of Revenue in order to set a property tax rate. The recap sheet shows
all estimated revenues and actual appropriations that affect the property tax rate. The recap
sheet should be submitted to the Department of Revenue by September 1 (in order to issue the
first-half semiannual property tax bills before October) or by December 1 (in order to issue the
third quarterly property tax bills before January 1).
78. Five Year Valuation Certification – The Commissioner of Revenue is required to review local
assessments every five years and to certify that they represent FFCV. The Bureau of Local
Assessments is responsible for this process.
79. Trust Fund – In general, a fund held for the specific purpose stipulated by a trust agreement.
The Town Treasurer acts as a custodian of trust funds and invests and expends such funds as
stipulated by trust agreements or as directed by the Commissioners of Trust Funds or by town
meeting. Both principal and interest may be used if the trust is established as an expendable
trust. For non-expendable trust funds, interest but not principal may be expended as directed.
80. Underride – A vote by a community to permanently decrease the tax levy limit. As such, it is
the exact opposite of an override.
81. Unfunded Pension Liability – Unfunded pension liability is the difference between the value
assigned to the retirement benefits already earned by a municipality’s employees and the assets
the local retirement system will have on hand to meet these obligations. The dollar value of the
unfunded pension liability is driven by assumptions about interest rates at which a retirement
system’s assets will grow and the rate of future costs of living increases to pensioners.
82. Uniform Municipal Accounting System (UMAS) – The Department of Revenue regards UMAS
as the professional standard for municipal account system that conforms to Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles modern municipal accounting in Massachusetts. Among the benefits of
September 2020 75
conversion to UMAS is increased consistency in reporting and record keeping and enhanced
comparability of data among cities and towns.
83. Unreserved Fund Balance (Surplus Revenue Account) – The amount by which cash, accounts
receivable, and other assets exceed liabilities and restricted reserves. It is akin to a “stockholders’
equity” account on a corporate balance sheet. It is not, however, available for appropriation in
full because a portion of the assets listed as “accounts receivable” may be taxes receivable and
uncollected.
84. Warrant – An authorization for an action. For example, a town meeting warrant establishes
the matters that may be acted upon by that town meeting. A treasury warrant authorizes the
treasurer to pay specific bills. The assessors’ warrant authorizes the tax collector to collect taxes
in the amount and from the persons listed, respectively.
85. Water Surplus – For water departments operating under MGL Ch. 41 ss. 69B, any revenues
in excess of estimated water receipts or unspent water appropriations closeout to a water surplus
account. Water surplus may be appropriated to fund water-related general and capital expenses
or to reduce water rates.
86. Waterways Improvement Fund – An account into which fifty percent of the proceeds of the
boat excise is deposited. Use of these proceeds is limited to certain waterway expenses as
outlined in MGL Ch. 40 ss. 5G.
September 2020 76
REVISED .......... DISCUSSION DRAFT EDITED IN MEETING OF 8/26/2020
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Background on Sub-Committee
1. The Nauset Regional High School (NRHS) subcommittee of the Brewster Finance
Committee was formed in December of 2019 to focus on the proposed project to
renovate and expand the regional high school and provide input to the Finance
Committee in its deliberations and final vote on the project as configured by the School
Committee and presented to the state for approval.
2. OThe sub-committee members were substantially involved in
3. Once the full range of considerations is addressed, the key decision that needs to be
made is whether the project proposed by the Nauset Regional High School Committee is
worthy of Brewster FINCOM and taxpayer support.
Current State of NRHS
2.4. The current NRHS is 50 years old and requires substantial work on its infrastructure.
3.5. Only one major project has been done since it was originally constructed.
4.6. It is not fully compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and has other code
violations.
Project Size and Scope
5.7. The proposed project scope involves a combination of renovation and new construction.
The total project cost is $132 m. The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has
reviewed the project and committed to a contribution of $36 m.
6.8. The School Committee proposes to issue bonds for some period of time (20 to 30 years)
to fund $98 m IF voters in the region/district approve the project and thereby agree to
fund the debt. (APPENDIX 1 – CHART PREPARED BY R. YOUNG FOR SELECT BOARD 20, 25,
30 YEAR SCENARIOS)
7.9. All funding for the bonds or debt service would be the responsibility of taxpayers in the
towns forming the region/district.
8.10. Taxpayers who are currently legally bound by their respective Select Boards to
participate in the Nauset region/district are those residing in Brewster, Orleans, Wellfleet
and Eastham.
9.11. These taxpayers will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not to approve the
NRHS project as approved by MSBA when it is presented in Town Meeting and on ballot in
Spring of 2021.
10.12. The project as proposed and designed is the ONLYonly option for voters to
consider at the Spring 2021 town meeting and ballot..
11. The project is sized for 905 students.
REVISED .......... DISCUSSION DRAFT EDITED IN MEETING OF 8/26/2020
2 | P a g e
12. All work done by the design team and the resulting project is based on the decision in
2017 by the School Committee to proceed with a project sized for 905 students.
13. TThis maximum student enrollment approved by the figure of 905 students has been
accepted by the MMSBA as the basis for the project is 905.. (APPENDIX 2 – MEMO BY F.
BRIDGES REGARDING NAUSET REGIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE ENROLLMENT DECISION)
14. The Superintendent has strongly supported the need for a school population this size as
critical to robust programming, diversity, and essential for effective recruitment and
utilization of full-time teachers.
Student Utilization of NRHS
15. Actual student volume at NRHS for FY 2020 was as follows:
Brewster*
281 31%
Eastham, Wellfleet, and
Orleans*
335 36%
Provincetown and Truro 86 9%
CHOICE – other towns 219 24%
Total 921 100%
*4 TOWNS IN DISTRICT = 67% OF STUDENT VOLUME
16. Enrollment from the 4 towns in the region/district has declined from 800 to 616 students
or 23% in the last ten years (2010 to 2020).
17. For the same ten-year period, CHOICE enrollment has increased from 153 to 219 students
or from 15% to 24% of the total student population.
18. The MSBA performed a demographic study supporting the enrollment figure including an
expectation a 1% decline per year for students within the district.
19. The MSBA data shows a 4-1/2% decline in the student population between 2017 and the
end of construction in 2025.
18. We cannot determine the impact on enrollment of the This ten-year period is only just
beginning to reflect the increase in students related to multiple affordable housing
initiatives across the 4 towns in the region/district. In Brewster the Habitat for Humanity
community has added families with children to the town’s student population. The
Millstone project will also likely add students.
20.
19.21. Eastham and Orleans have similar projects that will coming online.
Financial Considerations
REVISED .......... DISCUSSION DRAFT EDITED IN MEETING OF 8/26/2020
3 | P a g e
22. The School Committee makes a decision each year whether to continue the CHOICE
program and the number of students to accept in each grade.
20. accept students from towns other than the 4 towns in the region/district and under what
financial arrangements for operating, capital and debt service costs as well as how
transportation is to be funded.
21.23. Of the four towns in the Nauset regional system, Brewster funds the largest
percentage of NRHS costs at nearly half based on the percentage of its student enrollment
the prior year in relation to the other 3 towns (281/616=47%)..
22.24. As a result, Brewster would be obligated for nearly $50 m of the project debt
service of $98 m if the project is approved.
23.25. The project impacts taxpayers in three ways: operating budgets, capital budgets
and debt service.
26. A five-year agreement executed in April 2019 exists with the towns of Provincetown and
Truro in which the two towns agree to pay $18,457 per student (flat fee) in agreements
expire at the end of school year 2024. This flat fee is increased by 2-1/2% for the first four
years and 3-1/2 % in the final year.
24.27. a portion of annual operating costs as tuition and make some contribution to
capital. The agreement does not require full operating costs or full portion of capital costs
nor does it include any obligation to fund debt service on any major projects including this
project.
25.28. CHOICE students are students from towns throughout MA who choose and are
accepted to attend the Nauset Regional School DistrictNRHS. The state law effectively
limits annual operating budget reimbursement from the town of residence to the lower of
the sending district’s annual cost per student or $5k whichever is lower. The state law
does not require the sending district to fund capital costs or debt service for major
projects.
26.29. State law does stipulate some additional payment for costs associated with
Choice students with special education needsstudents.
27.30. The State law regarding financing/reimbursement for costs related to of CHOICE
students known as the inter-district school choice has not changed since its inception in
1991.
28.31. Although not required under the state law, the district provides tTransportation
for CHOICE students. The district does not provide transportation for tuition students
from Provincetown and Truro. is expected to be provided by the student’s guardian(s).
29.32. In an March 2020 memo, the district superintendent NRHS reports receivinges
$5,800 in operating revenues on average for CHOICE students representing a deficit per
student in operating costs of $14,90023,200 ($20,700 - 9k-$$5,800).
Formatted: Not Highlight
REVISED .......... DISCUSSION DRAFT EDITED IN MEETING OF 8/26/2020
4 | P a g e
30.33. In total for FY 2018, the district NRHS reported receiving gross
reimbursement/revenues of received $1.58 m for the high school in additional
reimbursements/revenues this past year from CHOICE students..
31.34. The five-year agreement with Provincetown and Truro requires payment of
approximately $2,243 less $($20,700-$18,457) than the actual cost per student.4k less
than the average cost per student and $11k less than the district taxpayers.
32. Reimbursement for CHOICE students is $17k less than the average and $24k less than the
district taxpayers must pay.
33.35. Taxpayers from the 4 towns in the region/district pay nearly $25,9009k per
sdistrict student per year in operating costs. The overall cost/student is about $20,7002k.
District taxpayers are therefore paying $5,200 7k or 2532% more per student than the
average cost to subsidize unfunded costs for students from Provincetown and Truro as
well as CHOICE students.
34.36. Over the last ten years (2010 to 2020), the NRHS budget did not request
increases to its operating budget more than 2.5% per year.
35.37. During this same 10-year period, total enrollment has decreased 7% and the
total NRHS budget has increased 29%. This translates to budgeted costs per enrolled
student has increasinged 39% during the is period, and with CHOICE students increasing
from 15% to 24% of the total student population. (APPENDIX 3- SEE CCHART TITLED #___
________)
Other Considerations
38. The School Committee has not decided the term of the financing (20, 25 or 30 years).
39. The Select Board in Brewster has recommended 20 years.
36.40. The total annual property tax increase to Brewster taxpayers for the project,
inclusive of the subsidy for students from Provincetown and Truro as well as CHOICE
students, has not published at this time and cannot be published until the School
Committee votes on the term for the debt.
37.41. Market iInterest rates are expected to be lower than those included in the
project estimate.
38.1. The School Committee has not decided the term of the financing (20, 25 or 30 years).
39. The Select Board in Brewster has recommended 20 years.
42. Taxpayers have to choose between approving this project and paying a subsidy for
unfunded costs associated with students who are not from the 4 towns in the
region/district OR rejecting the project knowing there is a risk that an alte rnate project
could be presented for which the state refuses to provide funding shifting the burden for
100% of the costs to the taxpayers.
REVISED .......... DISCUSSION DRAFT EDITED IN MEETING OF 8/26/2020
5 | P a g e
40.43. BOB TO REWRITE THIS SECTION.......If the alternate project eliminates and/or
substantially reduces CHOICE and/or Provincetown/Truro students the annual subsidy
could fund a $104 m school without any property increase. (Appendix 4 – Memo prepared
by R. Young dated _____).
41.44. FRANK TO REWRITE THIS SECTION........It is not clear if tThe current project was
designed in 2019. It is not clear if approved for NRHS by the MSBA approval contains
sufficient flexibility to address any substantial changes necessary to meet student/teacher
needs arising from COVID 19. Such changes might include use of remote learning as well
as in- person learning, the size of classrooms, student flow and airflow systems including
windows that open to respond to the highly infectious nature of this viru s.
I would like to share an analysis that I have done with regard to the NRHS building project bond
financing term. I performed this analysis with the thought that we need to consider the town’s
annual debt servicing requirements in light of the NRHS project as well as other projects that
can be reasonably anticipated - as well as those that we can’t foresee. This is not to prejudge
support for any of these projects, but to better understand the flexibility a longer bond financing
term would provide.
The bottom line is that the longer the term of the bond for NRHS, the more flexibility the town
would have with regard to financing other projects without stressing the town budget or further
burdening taxpayers. This is because, although total interest payments would be greater, the
annual debt service cost would be less, thereby reducing the size of the required property tax
increase.
I believe this should be a key consideration for the Select Board in its recommendation to the
School Committee that will ultimately decide the NRHS project bond financing term. I
appreciate that the Select Board voted to recommend a 20 year bond term at its 11/4/2019
meeting, but I think this additional information and analysis needs to be presented so that the
Select Board can reconsider this position.
The schedules that were provided to the Select Board provided scenarios for 20, 25, and 30
year bond terms and assumed interest rates of 4.25%, 4.75%, and 5.00%, respectively.
The 20 year scenario calculated Brewster’s annual debt service payment at $3,387,681.94. The
25 year scenario’s annual payment equaled $3,116,110.31. The 30 year scenario’s annual
payment equaled $2,929,259.75. So, the 25 year scenario would result in annual debt service
payments $271,571.63 less than the 20 year scenario, and the 30 year scenario would result in
annual debt service payments $458,422.19 less than the 20 year scenario.
These annual reduced debt service requirements would then be available to fund future bond
issuance to support other projects without increasing the tax burden beyond what’s currently
contemplated with a 20 year NRHS bond term.
How much debt capacity would this provide? If we continue to use the scenario’s extremely
conservative interest rate assumptions, the $271k would support about $3.6MM in borrowing for
a 20 year term, $3.9MM for a 25 year term, and $4.2MM for a 30 year term. The $458k would
support about $6MM in borrowing for a 20 year term, $6.6MM for a 25 year term, and $7MM for
a 30 year term.
We can revise this analysis using today’s actual municipal bond interest rates to paint an even
more compelling picture. AA rated municipal bond interest rates are about 2.20% for 20 year
financing, 2.3% for 25 year financing, and 2.40% for 30 year financing.
Using these interest rates and Brewster’s assumed portion of the NRHS bond results in the
following: For a 20 year term, annual debt service equals $2,807,313.24. For a 25 year term,
annual debt service equals $2,388,473.46. For a 30 year term, annual debt service equals
$2,122,835.67. So, the 25 year scenario would result in annual debt service payments
$418,839.78 less than the 20 year scenario, and the 30 year scenario would result in annual
debt service payments $684,477.57 less than the 20 year scenario - lowering the annual debt
service cost even more than using the extremely conservative interest rates in the Unibank
scenarios.
Again, these annual reduced debt service requirements would then be available to fund future
bond issuance to support other projects without increasing the tax burden beyond what’s
currently contemplated with a 20 year NRHS bond term. Assuming today’s municipal bond
interest rates, the $418k would support about $6.7MM in borrowing for a 20 year term, $7.9MM
for a 25 year term, and $8.9MM for a 30 year term. The $684k would support about $11MM in
borrowing for a 20 year term, $12.9MM for a 25 year term, and $14.5MM for a 30 year term.
The upside of longer borrowing terms is greater financial flexibility in the future for other
anticipated and unforeseen projects. When considered on an individual median value
homeowner basis, the annual savings from extending the term don’t appear substantial (about
$30-$50/year). However, when looked at collectively, the ability to substantially fund future
projects without placing any further burden on the taxpayer beyond what is contemplated by the
20 year financing for the NRHS project is compelling.
The clear downside is that the total amount of interest paid would be substantially greater.
However, interest rates are at historic lows, and locking in very long term financing for a very
long term asset is prudent financial management. There is also the rationale that extending the
tenor to 30 years is a matter of fairness given that this would mean the burden of the financing
would be spread over more/different taxpayers as homeowners arrive in and leave Brewster.
NRHS BOND TERM SCENARIOS AND DEBT CAPACITY ANALYSIS
Assumptions:
Total project cost to taxpayers from all 4 member communities of $97MM (assumes $140MM total project cost less $43MM MSBA subsidy)
Current 46.4225% contribution of Brewster taxpayers, based on FY20 student enrollment figures (which adjusts every year based on updated actuals)
Current Brewster median home valuation of $445,000
Current (FY20) total assessed property valuation of $4,121,908,120
CONSERVATIVE RATE VERSUS CURRENT RATE SCENARIOS
ADD'L DEBT CAPACITY WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES BEYOND 20 YEAR BOND
FINANCING
20 year term Conservative rate scenario Current rate scenario 25 year versus 20 year bond Conservative rate scenario Current rate scenario
Interest rate 4.25%2.20%Annual reduction in debt service $271.6k $418.8k
Total Debt Service $145.9MM $120.9MM Add'l debt capacity on a 20 year bond $3.6MM $6.7MM
Total Interest $48.9MM $23.9MM Add'l debt capacity on a 25 year bond $3.9MM $7.9MM
Impact to the Tax Rate $0.82/1000 $0.68/1000 Add'l debt capacity on a 30 year bond $4.2MM $8.9MM
Annual Impact to the Tax Bill $365/year $303/year
Total Paid by Median Homeowner $7,313 $6,062 30 year versus 20 year bond Conservative rate scenario Current rate scenario
Brewster annual debt service $3.4MM $2.8MM Annual reduction in debt service $458.4k $684.5k
Add'l debt capacity on a 20 year bond $6.0MM $11.0MM
25 year term Conservative rate scenario Current rate scenario Add'l debt capacity on a 25 year bond $6.6MM $12.9MM
Interest rate 4.75%2.30%Add'l debt capacity on a 30 year bond $7.0MM $14.5MM
Total Debt Service $167.8MM $128.6MM
Total Interest $70.7MM $31.6MM
Impact to the Tax Rate $0.76/1000 $0.58/1000
Annual Impact to the Tax Bill $336/year $258/year
Total Paid by Median Homeowner $8,408 $6,446
Brewster annual debt service $3.1MM $2.4MM
30 year term Conservative rate scenario Current rate scenario
Interest rate 5.00%2.40%
Total Debt Service $189.3MM $137.2MM
Total Interest $92.3MM $40.2MM
Impact to the Tax Rate $0.71/1000 $0.52/1000
Annual Impact to the Tax Bill $316/year $229/year
Total Paid by Median Homeowner $9,487 $6,875
Brewster annual debt service $2.9MM $2.1MM
Memo to: Brewster FINCOM Chair
From: Frank Bridges
Date June 30, 2020
Re: NRHS Project and Inter-School Choice
In the June 29, 2020 Joint Select Board / Nauset Regional School Committee meeting, NRSC Chair Chris Easley stated that
“school choice is not part of this building project” and further “it is something that has just come up and it is new”. I am
afraid that I must take issue with that statement. As part of the Finance Subcommittee investigation I reviewed the minutes
and videotape of the May, June and July 2017 meetings and the minutes of the August 2017 meeting which are summarized
in the bullet points below.
In February 2017, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) invited the Nauset Regional School Committee
(NRSC) to submit a statement of interest into the MSBA’s Eligibility Period. In the subsequent months the Committee met
on several occasions to discuss the key components of the process – determining grade configuration of the facility and the
student enrollment number on which the design would be based. In its public meetings in Ma y, June, July and August of
2017, the Committee discussed these and other topics as part of the MSBA Modular 1 requirements. The Modular 1
guidelines required the Committee to submit a rep ort to confirm the grade configuration and certified enro llment data of the
high school to the MSBA by the end of August 2017.
• At the May 11, 2017 meeting the Committee Chair stated that the Committee needed to address the size of the
facility “700 or 1000 students” and to look into the impact of School Choice, and the tuition arrangements for Truro
and Provincetown.
• At the June 14, 2017 meeting the issues of grade configuration, Truro/Provincetown tuition enrollment and the Inter -
District School Choice program were again determined to be crucial topics for furthe r discussion. In particular the
Superintendent indicated that the “towns have asked us to look at school choice students and look at our
population”.
• In the July 13 meeting the new Committee Chair stated that long term effects of grade configuration would be
deferred for future consideration, to be studied 5 or 10 years down the road. It was suggested that a subcommittee
be formed for that study.
• At the August 10 meeting, the Superintendent indicated that the MSBA representative had advised him that the
deliberations of the NRSC meetings of June and July would satisfy MSBA Modular 1 requirements. The Committee
then voted to 1) maintain the 9-12 configuration for the project and 2) maintain the Choice program in grades 6-12.
• On November 8, 2017 the MSBA approved a 9-12 grade structure with an enrolled base of 905 students.
Up until the MSBA’s Invitation to Eligibility to the NRS District in February 2017, it is my conclusion based on a review of
the minutes and videotape, that the NRSC had viewed the Choice enrollment invitations as an annual decision that would
impact the curriculum of the school and the annual operating budget. Because the existing facility had been designed to
accommodate 1000+ students the Board considered only the marginal impact of Tuition and Choice students on its annual
budget. I believe that when asking the Board to “look at school choice students and look at our population”, the towns were
asking the Board to consider the impact of declining district enrollment and an increasing Choice enrollment on the Districts
long term capital requirements. It is not clear to me that the Board did so.
The minutes and video of the Nauset Regional School Committee meetings show:
• No discussion of the prior period enrollment declines
• No discussion of the prior period Choice enrollment increases at NHRS
• No discussion of requiring Truro and Provincetown’s inclusion into the NRSD Agreement
• No discussion of amending the Tuition Agreements with Truro and Provincetown to provide for any future
capital requirements related to their students (New 5 year tuition agreements for both towns were completed in
April 2019 with 2.5% escalators in all but the last year, which will increase by 3.5 %.)
The inclusion of choice students in the proposed enrollment base was the key determinant in all of the ensuing work
done by the design team and resulted in the project under consideration by the towns.
NRHS
Budget
(excludes
Region,
other
expenses)
Total NRHS
Enrollment
Total NRHS
member
towns
(District)
enrollment
Total NRHS
member
towns +
tuition
enrollment
(Non-
Choice)
Total
CHOICE
enrollment
FY10 (09/10)$9,126,011 993 800 840 153
FY11 $9,059,459 987 737 819 168
FY12 $9,436,281 965 696 780 185
FY13 $9,725,011 970 695 780 190
FY14 $10,250,107 1024 706 810 214
FY15 $10,730,685 974 687 777 197
FY16 $10,968,281 981 676 772 209
FY17 $11,131,812 945 642 734 211
FY18 $11,086,421 924 603 688 236
FY19 $11,468,531 944 624 716 228
FY20 $11,781,018 921 616 702 219
CAGR 2.59%-0.75%-2.58%-1.78%3.65%
% change FY10-FY20 29%-7%-23%-16%43%
Regional
Budget Total Tuition Choice
FY10 (09/10)$24,424,367 $862,736 $977,595
FY11 $24,414,747 $1,070,692 $1,040,000
FY12 $25,450,648 $1,237,809 $1,246,507
FY13 $26,586,603 $1,226,401 $1,399,432
FY14 $28,235,686 $1,481,998 $1,600,000
FY15 $28,999,988 $1,975,730 $1,550,308
FY16 $29,834,063 $1,776,780 $1,550,000
FY17 $30,879,481 $2,257,625 $1,534,500
FY18 $31,642,386 $2,028,028 $1,833,500
FY19 $32,587,337 $2,024,960 $2,128,100
FY20 $33,500,089 $2,344,166 $2,128,100
***FY18-FY20 added back revolving funds that were taken out per DESE - keeps consistency
CAGR 3.21%in trend
DATA
NRHS
Budget
(excludes
Region,
other
expenses)
Total NRHS
Enrollment
Total NRHS
member
towns
(District)
enrollment
Total NRHS
member towns
+ tuition
enrollment
(Non-Choice)Total CHOICE enrollment
FY10 (09/10)100 100 100 100 100
FY11 99 99 92 98 110
FY12 103 97 87 93 121
FY13 107 98 87 93 124
FY14 112 103 88 96 140
FY15 118 98 86 93 129
FY16 120 99 85 92 137
FY17 122 95 80 87 138
FY18 121 93 75 82 154
FY19 126 95 78 85 149
FY20 129 93 77 84 143
***FY18-FY20 added back revolving funds that were taken out per DESE - keeps consistency
DATA INDEXED TO 2010 AS BASE VALUE
CPI
Northeast
January
data
NRHS
Budget
(excludes
Region,
other
expenses)
NRHS
Budget -
2010 $
Inflation
Adj.Budget
indexed to
2010
Choice
Reimbursement
Estimate
Choice
Reimbursement
Estimate 2010$
FY10 (09/10)232.294 $9,126,011 $9,126,011 100 $887,400 $887,400
FY11 235.969 $9,059,459 $8,918,366 98 $974,400 $959,225
FY12 242.879 $9,436,281 $9,025,035 99 $1,073,000 $1,026,237
FY13 247.277 $9,725,011 $9,135,753 100 $1,102,000 $1,035,228
FY14 251.045 $10,250,107 $9,484,508 104 $1,241,200 $1,148,493
FY15 250.016 $10,730,685 $9,970,057 109 $1,142,600 $1,061,609
FY16 251.739 $10,968,281 $10,121,061 111 $1,212,200 $1,118,566
FY17 258.073 $11,131,812 $10,019,852 110 $1,223,800 $1,101,554
FY18 262.188 $11,086,421 $9,822,376 108 $1,368,800 $1,212,733
FY19 266.109 $11,468,531 $10,011,202 110 $1,322,400 $1,154,360
FY20 272.316 $11,781,018 $10,049,574 110 $1,270,200 $1,083,520
5,800$
Choice reimbursement per T. Conrad March 2020 memo
INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS
NRHS Budget less
Choice
Reimbursement
Estimate
NRHS Budget less
Choice
Reimbursement
Estimate 2010$
District+Tuition
(Non-Choice)
Students
Budget covered
by (District taxes
+ Tuition) per
District + Tuition
student
Budget covered
by (District taxes
+ Tuition) per
District + Tuition
student indexed
to 2010
Budget covered by
(District taxes +
Tuition) per District +
Tuition student 2010$
Budget covered by
(District taxes +
Tuition) per District
+ Tuition student
2010$ indexed to
2010
FY10 (09/10)$8,238,611 $8,238,611 840 $9,808 100 $9,808 100
FY11 $8,085,059 $7,959,142 819 $9,872 101 $9,718 99
FY12 $8,363,281 $7,998,798 780 $10,722 109 $10,255 105
FY13 $8,623,011 $8,100,526 780 $11,055 113 $10,385 106
FY14 $9,008,907 $8,336,016 810 $11,122 113 $10,291 105
FY15 $9,588,085 $8,908,448 777 $12,340 126 $11,465 117
FY16 $9,756,081 $9,002,495 772 $12,637 129 $11,661 119
FY17 $9,908,012 $8,918,297 734 $13,499 138 $12,150 124
FY18 $9,717,621 $8,609,643 688 $14,124 144 $12,514 128
FY19 $10,146,131 $8,856,842 716 $14,171 144 $12,370 126
FY20 $10,510,818 $8,966,054 702 $14,973 153 $12,772 130
CAGR 4.32%2.68%
BUDGET/NON-CHOICE STUDENT NEEDED TO BE COVERED BY DISTRICT TAXES + TUITION HAS INCREASED 53% ON AN ABSOLUTE BASIS AND 30% INFLATION
ADJUSTED
Budget/enrolled
student
Budget/enrolled
student indexed
to 2010
Budget/enrolled
student 2010$
Budget/enrolled
student 2010$
indexed to 2010
FY10 (09/10)$9,190 100 $9,190 100
FY11 $9,179 100 $9,036 98
FY12 $9,779 106 $9,352 102
FY13 $10,026 109 $9,418 102
FY14 $10,010 109 $9,262 101
FY15 $11,017 120 $10,236 111
FY16 $11,181 122 $10,317 112
FY17 $11,780 128 $10,603 115
FY18 $11,998 131 $10,630 116
FY19 $12,149 132 $10,605 115
FY20 $12,792 139 $10,912 119
CAGR 3.36%1.73%
EVEN ON TOTAL ENROLLMENT, BUDGET/STUDENT HAS INCREASED 39% ON AN ABSOLUTE
BASIS AND 19% INFLATION ADJUSTED
Finance Committee Minutes
July 15, 2020 Page 1 of 4
TOWN OF BREWSTER
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Date: July 15, 2020 Time: 2:00 PM
VIRTUAL MEETING MINUTES
Present: Vice Chair Pete Dahl, Don Arthur, Bill Meehan, Honey Pivirotto, Frank Bridges, Bob Young
Also present: Mimi Bernardo, Finance Director; Peter Lombardi, Town Administrator
Absent: Larissa Haynes
The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm.
Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law and his March 15 and March 23, 2020 Orders imposing strict
limits on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and
the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting may be found on the Town’s
website at www.brewster-ma.gov. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to listen to the audio broadcast may do so via the Town of Brewster website at
http://livestream.brewster-ma.gov or on Channel 18. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure the public
can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means. The Town has established specific email addresses for each board and committee that will be
meeting remotely so that residents can send their comments in writing either before or during the meeting. In the event we are unable to live broadcast these meetings,
despite best efforts, we will post on the Town website an audio recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting at
http://tv.brewster-ma.gov. To submit public comment or questions to the Finance Committee prior to or during the meeting please email to fincommeeting@brewster-
ma.gov.
Pete Dahl wanted to say that Mike Fitzgerald was not moving forward with the Finance Committee. For
quite a long time, Mike has been a part of this Committee and a true leader in the community. He has spent
14 years on the Finance Committee and 8 of those as Chair. This is a commitment of someone who truly
cares about our community and will always be a part of the fabric of our community. It is with bittersweet
sadness that we move forward without him.
Don Arthur said he would also be stepping down from the Finance Committee and thanked everyone for
their friendship over the last 3 years.
Pete thanked him and said he was going to miss them both.
1.TA/FD Update
Peter Lombardi said we are winding down closing out FY20 and next couple weeks providing info to SB where
we ended up in terms of actuals. The state has taken a few actions which have impacted us with the necessary
guidelines. Short term tax revenues weren’t budgeted for at all b/c we couldn’t, it was the first year they were
online. Next meeting we will update on FY20 revenue actuals. Sept 15th date for Town Meeting. Plan to close
the Warrant from about a month from today. We will have a meeting to discuss any further changes. We
made modest cuts in state aid for FY21. We’ll have a better sense what State Aid is going to look like, and if we
need to make any further reductions within the next month or so. What’s still hard in forecasting local
receipts, our local reopening coalition is working. In lodging receipts, business is down. It’s not as bad as it
could be, but people who are booking are booking 2-3 weeks out at most and there could be much change out
Approved:
VOTE:
September 2020 77
Finance Committee Minutes
July 15, 2020 Page 2 of 4
there. We will make our best efforts to present a balanced budget, one that is sustainable to take us into
Town Meeting.
Honey asked what would be the best timing for our August meeting. Peter Lombardi said Wednesday, August
5th at 4pm is already scheduled, we might also be able to meet on July 29th or the August 12th. Honey said she
would not be available on the 12th. Peter Lombardi said he could send out the Master Schedule to the
Committee. He also said he would provide any additional voting information as well.
2.Discuss and Vote on FY20 Year-End Transfer Requests
Mimi Bernardo said we may transfer from the General Fund any available funds to cover any deficits. We had
two things that we could not have known: Mimi Bernardo is requesting up to $15,000 to Veteran’s expense
line item just in case we receive any bill between now or when she closes out the books. The other is for the
county tax assessment – the amount shown on the cherry sheet from the State, our county tax line was not
the figure they received from the county. There is some money left in the charter school assessment line item.
She is again requesting up to $15,000 and would like to take both out of the General Fund Health Insurance
Budget where there are funds to take from.
Bob said the health insurance number seems very high and wanted to know how we were able to spend
almost a quarter of a million less than expected. Mimi said given her best guess, there was probably a lot of
concern to make sure they had enough to cover health insurance erring on the side of caution. For the FY20
budget, we worked very closely with the Treasurer, Lisa Vitale, to make sure we had good coverage, but there
is not a lot of padding in that budget.
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve a transfer to Veteran’s Benefits Expense of a sum not to exceed $15,000 to
be sourced from the General Fund Health Insurance. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Bill Meehan – yes, Don Arthur – yes,
Honey Pivirotto – yes, Vice Chair Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve a transfer to County Tax Assessment Account of a sum not to exceed
$15,000 to be sourced from the General Fund Health Insurance. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Bill Meehan – yes, Don Arthur – yes,
Honey Pivirotto – yes, Vice Chair Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
3.Update on FY20 Golf Actuals
Peter Lombardi said of all of our services we provide, we were most concerned about the Golf Department
and that’s been a moving target as we worked through the pandemic response. We originally projected a
$300,000 deficit, and now not only are we closing without a deficit but with a $60,000 surplus. Impacts FY20
and FY21, b/c the state passed deficit spending to be amortized over the next 3 years, so carrying a little over
$100,000 deficit cost. Phase 3 tee times are coming back to 9 minute intervals, so Mark O’Brien is going back
to the drawing board, and we will have an update at next meeting regarding FY21.
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July 15, 2020 Page 3 of 4
Bob asked if the Financial Reserve Policy, was to have Golf be built up to $500,000 in 3 years. Peter Lombardi
answered that everything has been reset due to pandemic, and we will be able to look back. Last bond
payment was paid off in FY20. They are going to be better positioned b/c they offered their two year
memberships. FY21 memberships are down a little bit, however, we should be set up well for FY22 and
beyond.
4.NRHS Building Project Update, Sub-Committee Report
Peter Lombardi gave a brief recap – in Feb, the MSBA approved the project and started the 120 day regulatory
clock to secure all local approvals set to expire in June, and then the pandemic happened. The School Board
went back to MSBA for an extension to the deadline to November 1. The other impacted Town Managers
looked at votes on the ballot and prefer it to be on the State Ballot in November all at once, so went back and
asked for a longer extension to May 31 which was approved. School Committee and Select Board met on June
29th, spoke about the status of the project and got feedback from Select Board. The Select Board expressed
interest in having both votes held next May. The School Committee is reaching out to the other towns to see if
they will do the same. After a formal vote from the School Committee, that sets off the 60 day clock for all
local approvals to be held at the ballot.
Frank said the June 29th Select Board and School Committee meeting re their approval and pushed vote date
for spring TM in 2021. Chair Chris Easley said that School Choice has never been a part of the building project,
and it is new. Frank thought it really made sense to accelerate the Sub Committee Report for all members of
committee so they could see background. The original Charge in 2017 had in it about consideration of Choice
or declining enrollment. We can talk about it in our next meeting, August 5th.
Peter Lombardi said we need to know when this project will go forward before our Warrant goes to print. Our
plan as of today is to keep it on the Warrant in case action needs to be taken. We have a deadline in a few
weeks to have the State place it on the ballot.
Bob said it will be important for us to report our research and analysis to be put in the Warrant or some other
public document where people will have time to digest it. This project is too big to wait until Town Meeting
forum. Seems like the School Committee is leaning to the spring b/c there is so much uncertainty at this time
to be prepared for the fall.
Frank feels only thing missing on the report is what the impact of the pandemic will have on the school and
students for this fall. Peter said that the idea of redesigning the school project, that won’t be constructed for
three to five years, won’t happen. He doesn’t imagine the MSBA is inclined to make any allowances or changes
to the plan. Honey volunteered to work on the sub-committee. She feels strongly that because of the size of
this project, with all the research the sub-committee has done, it is very important for our community to have
and be able to digest and analyze the recommendation. Pete said if we want to get it into the Warrant, it
needs to be approved through the Finance Committee for August 12th.
Frank Bridges MOVED to reactivate the Finance Sub Committee. Bill Meehan second.
Roll Call Vote: Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Bill Meehan – yes, Don Arthur – yes,
Honey Pivirotto – yes, Vice Chair Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
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July 15, 2020 Page 4 of 4
Pete Dahl, as acting Chair, appointed Honey Pivirotto to the Finance Sub-Committee.
5.Liaison Reports & Future Meeting Requests
Honey wanted to make a comment regarding the Audit Committee - she would like to make it a standing item
on the Finance Committee agendas going forward. She asked Peter about the Select Board and who would like
to take up the torch from there. Peter said he did ask, and would hope to have this updated at the next
meeting at the latest. Honey requested putting on the next agenda any update on the elementary school
consolidation for the next meeting and where we are with new members. We’ve lost Tom, Mike, and Don.
Pete said he did speak to Charlie Sumner about committee appointments coming up. Frank is also concerned
with this issue. With the non-reappointment of Mike, and Don’s leaving the committee, he is concerned about
having a quorum so that we can meet and make decisions. Pete said if anyone has suggestions on who would
make a good candidate, please send a resume and letter of interest to the Moderator.
Don continues to feel we should collaborate with other towns’ Finance Committees regarding the School
Project.
6.Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate - None
Bill Meehan MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 3:30 PM. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Bill Meehan – yes, Don Arthur – yes,
Honey Pivirotto – yes, Vice Chair Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Respectfully submitted, Beth Devine
Packet of additional documents on website for public review.
September 2020 80
Finance Committee Minutes
August 5, 2020 Page 1 of 8
TOWN OF BREWSTER
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Date: August 5, 2020 Time: 4:00 PM
VIRTUAL MEETING MINUTES
Present: Vice Chair Pete Dahl, Bill Meehan, Honey Pivirotto, Frank Bridges, Bob Young, Andy Evans, Robert
Tobias
Also present: Mimi Bernardo, Finance Director; Peter Lombardi, Town Administrator; Chris Powicki,
Citizens’ Presenter
Absent: Larissa Haynes
The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm.
Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law and his March 15 and March 23, 2020 Orders imposing strict
limits on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and
the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting may be found on the Town’s
website at www.brewster-ma.gov. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to listen to the audio broadcast may do so via the Town of Brewster website at
http://livestream.brewster-ma.gov or on Channel 18. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure the public
can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means. The Town has established specific email addresses for each board and committee that will be
meeting remotely so that residents can send their comments in writing either before or during the meeting. In the event we are unable to live broadcast these meetings,
despite best efforts, we will post on the Town website an audio recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting at
http://tv.brewster-ma.gov. To submit public comment or questions to the Finance Committee prior to or during the meeting please email to fincommeeting@brewster-
ma.gov.
New Committee Member, Andy Evans, introduced himself and gave a brief bio to the group. The Committee
present introduced themselves as well before Pete Dahl started the Meeting Agenda.
1.Reorganize Finance Committee
Pete Dahl stated that there are 6 members presently on the Committee. Larissa is unable to attend 4PM
meetings. We may need to look to see if there might be another better time. We have 3 positions on the
Committee needing to be filled: Chair, Vice Chair, and Clerk. Clerk has responsibility for Town Meeting and
Minutes. He then asked if there were any nominations for Chair.
Frank Bridges NOMINATED Pete Dahl for Finance Committee Chair. Bill Meehan second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Approved:
VOTE:
September 2020 81
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August 5, 2020 Page 2 of 8
Pete Dahl NOMINATED Frank Bridges for Finance Committee Vice Chair. Honey Pivirotto second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Honey Pivirotto NOMINATED Bill Meehan for Finance Committee Clerk. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
2.Presentation of Climate Emergency & Net Zero Declaration Article 24
Citizens’ Presenter for Article 24, Chris Powicki, made a brief statement. The Article was developed by a small
group of citizens including Peter Lombardi, Peter Johnson, Mary Chaffee, John Lamb, Pat Hues, Don Kieran and
himself. The Article is paralleled by similar Articles in other towns but customized to Brewster. He asked if
anyone had questions. Pete read the Article aloud. The Energy Committee and Select Board endorsed the
Article unanimously.
Chris Powicki explained that these two policy objectives revolve around mitigation, which is emission
reduction, and adaptation, which is reducing vulnerability to storms, to erosion, to changes in precipitation
patterns that may lead to increased storm water overflows. Basically protecting our community during times
of emergency – reducing the Town’s vulnerability to Climate Change was about adapting to or basically
minimizing the threats posed by Climate Change.
Bob was concerned that the funds would be directed here and not available to changes down the road.
Concerned about legislating something that directs funding priorities rather than leaving the resources
available with greater flexibility. Peter Lombardi answered that his concern was part of the discussion, and at
its core, is a resolution- not binding, but indicating town government support broadly for these initiatives.
Chris Powicki also answered that in other towns, activists thought it would be good to make this a bylaw, but
b/c the State would have overriding authority, they felt the if the idea has buy-in by the Town and other stake
holders in the community, there would be more motivation for action. Brewster is a member of the Cape Light
Compact with many residents taking advantage of this service, yet many have not. This is the easiest thing
residents can do to make a substantial difference in their energy bills, energy consumption, and Greenhouse
Gas Emissions footprint and with this type of acceptance, there might be more in the Town of Brewster
wanting to promote through the Town Website and engage the Energy Committee on pushing the Audit
Program more broadly. It is an opportunity for education. This resolution addresses Municipal Energy use
effectively through the Green Communities designation and community-wide energy use. Brewster could be a
community leader. It is his hope that this Resolution may get the Town more interested in moving forward
with this initiative.
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 24 as printed in the Town Charter, a Citizens Petition on the subject
of Climate Emergency and Net Zero Declaration. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – no, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 5-yes 1-no
Bob Young supports the notion, but feels we over-legislate and education is the better way to go. Pete Dahl
commented it is great to start someplace, and makes a statement of where we want to go.
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3.TA/FD Update
Peter Lombardi gave the update. The Town is in the fairly unique position of looking back on the most recent
FY2020. We all had trepidation of what local receipts would look like broadly and the property tax collection
rate. At the highest level, revenues came in strong and better than expected in the early days of this
pandemic. We ended up bringing in about $500,000 more in revenues than projected and local receipts were
about $700,000 over in all local receipts including the major drivers: vehicle excise, meals tax, lodging tax,
trash/beach permits, and building permits. In terms of property tax, we tightened up our collections to one
month, and still collected 98% by the close of the fiscal year. Very much in line with our June 1 collection rate.
The tax payments received since July 1 are being applied to FY21 which will help with our bottom line. In June,
we made a series of reductions in the FY21 budget, but post pandemic, we revisited all of our adjusted
revenue projections and only made one change reducing penalties and interest projections by $50,000.
4.Discuss 9/15 Annual Town Meeting
Peter Lombardi said when we postponed the meeting, we scheduled it for Monday 9/14, but then realized it
was a State Holiday and moved it to the Tuesday, September 15th. We had a meeting today around the
logistics of having Town Meeting, and are now looking at holding the meeting on a Saturday, with the idea of
it being an outdoor venue. More to come soon on that.
5.Discuss and Vote Special Town Meeting Budget Articles 1-6
Article 1 Unpaid Bills, standard Article, two outstanding – CVEC Solar Pass through payment where the town
bills the developer, net zero to the Town in terms of revenue or expense. The other $50.000/year for
Unemployment. The State office hasn’t processed invoices for municipalities since March. These should be
treated as unpaid bills. The majority of this will be covered with Golf Dept. funds largely due to seasonal golf
department positions.
Article 2 Rescinding Debt Authorization for a handful of small capital projects and acquisitions for the Golf
Dept. They were trying to get to the finish line making the last bond payment. Since that time, 3/5 projects
have been completed, purchased and payed for through Golf. So, at this point, we are looking to rescind that
authorization.
Article 3 Enterprise Fund for Water Dept., this vote would get us to where they are properly voted and
accounted for as a crew.
Article 4 latest of the Millstone Road Project, we continue to work through the design process, a major road
project that will not only deal with resurfacing but significant drainage updates, dealing with curves and
sightlines, and adding continuous 5’ sidewalks. We had over 100 residents listen to our presentation. One of
the things that has come out of that is a small corner of the Millstone right of way that infringes on
approximately, 10,000 square feet of Nickerson State Park. We have talked to the State with the language
which requires action in Town Meeting and State Legislature. It takes an Act of Congress for the Town to be
given permission to do this work.
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Article 5 is a standard Article to provide funding $80,000 for property evaluation services to pay year 3 of a 3
year contract. The funding comes from the Overlay, b/c we don’t plan on having a Special Town Meeting in the
fall, we wanted to get this in now, for the work to be done.
Article 6 is Other Business, not requiring any vote from the Finance Committee.
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 1 as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 2 as printed in the Warrant to Rescind Debt Authorization.
Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 3 in the Special Town Meeting section of the Warrant, Water
Department Enterprise Fund as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 4 in the Special Town Meeting section of the Warrant, Home Rule
Conveyance for a parcel of land as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 5 in the Special Town Meeting section of the Warrant, Property
Valuation Services as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
6.Review and Vote Town Meeting Articles 1,4,5,7,10,11,12,13,14,21,24
Article 4 Assessment Formula for Nauset Regional Schools
Standard consent agenda item, being a regional school district there is a standard formula that the State has,
so if you deviate from that, Town Meeting has to vote on that particular assessment formula.
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 4 Assessment Formula for Nauset Regional Schools as printed.
Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
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Article 10 Capital and Special Projects
We had pressed reset budget on the Capital Planning Budget, reconstituted the Capital Planning Committee,
development of 5 year Capital Plan completed end of January, presented beginning of February, planned to be
brought to Town Meeting in May, with a handful of changes made shortly after the pandemic hit. At this point,
Free Cash FY19 Certified of $3M and Town Meeting last fall appropriated about $1M then leaving a balance of
about $2M. The Capital Projects included on this Warrant using Free Cash total a little under $300,000.
1C - Town Hall generator $150,000, seeking an additional $50,000 to cover costs, we will go to Town Meeting
with a specific amount.
1B - former Natural Resources garage, we are looking to move forward on disposition of this parcel.
5C - technology upgrades and replacements – one totaling $15,000.
7A, B, C – for DPW - $15,000 for tree work, $15,000 for irrigation, and $50,000 for road maintenance – we plan
on paying for those with Free Cash which has been the case for many years. This is really FY20 Capital.
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 10, Section 1, Subsection A- Town Hall Office reconfiguration, the
sum of $10,000 to be sourced from General Fund Free Cash as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 10, Section 1, Subsection B- Council on Aging re-insulation project,
the sum of $30,000 to be sourced from the General Fund Free Cash as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 10, Section 1, Subsection C- Town Hall Generator project, in the
amount of $50,000 to be funded from General Fund Free Cash. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 10, Section 1, Subsection D- Former Natural Resources Garage, the
sum of $15,000 to be funded from General Fund Free Cash as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 10, Section 2, Subsection A- Stony Brook Roof Repairs, in the sum of
$15,000 to be funded from General Fund Free Cash as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
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Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 10, Section 2, the sum of $117,500 all of which to be taken from
General Fund Free Cash. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 10, Section 3, Nauset Regional School District Capital Plan Projects to
be raised and appropriated the sum $262,138 as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 10, Section 4, Natural Resources Beach and Landing repairs and
improvements the sum of $30,000 to be taken from General Fund Free Cash as printed.
Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 10, Section 5, Information Technology the expenditure of $75,569 to
be taken from General Fund Free Cash as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 10, Section 6, Water Department the sum of $400,000 in total to be
taken from water receipts reserved for appropriation as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 10, Section 7, Department of Public Works the total sum of $80,000
to be taken from the General Fund Free Cash as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 14 General Stabilization Fund the amount of $1Million to be
transferred from Free Cash to the General Stabilization Fund as printed. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve Article 21 Town Code Amendment Placement of Articles as printed.
Frank Bridges second.
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Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
7.Audit Committee Update
Have a meeting on Monday with Auditor Bob Brown and will inform of progress at next Finance Committee
Meeting. Honey’s appointment to the Audit Committee expired on June 30th, need to nominate her for a 3
year term.
Bill Meehan MOVED to nominate Honey Pivirotto for a 3 year term on the Audit Committee.
Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
8.NRHS Building Project Update, Sub-Committee Report- defer
9.Review of Minutes 3/4/2020, 3/11/2020, 5/20/2020, 6/17/2020
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve the Minutes of 3/4/2020 as submitted. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Minutes from 3/11/2020 had a typo on page 6 of 8. Bill Young needs to be changed to Bob Young.
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve the Minutes of 3/11/2020 as amended. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Pete brought up that although Andy Evans was not at these meetings, it is completely appropriate for him to
vote on the Minutes.
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve the Minutes of 5/20/2020 as submitted. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Bill Meehan MOVED to approve the Minutes of 6/17/2020 as submitted. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bill Meehan – yes, Honey Pivirotto – yes, Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Andy Evans –
yes, Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
September 2020 87
Finance Committee Minutes
August 5, 2020 Page 8 of 8
10. Liaison Reports & Future Meeting Requests- defer
11.Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate - None
Bill Meehan MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 6:26 PM. Frank Bridges second.
Roll Call Vote: Bob Young – yes, Frank Bridges – yes, Bill Meehan – yes, Don Arthur – yes,
Honey Pivirotto – yes, Vice Chair Pete Dahl– yes.
The Committee voted: 6-yes 0-no
Respectfully submitted, Beth Devine
Additional documents used at the meeting:
SB Memo re: FY20 Revenue Actuals 7.31.2020
FY20 Revenue Analysis for Selectboard Mtg 7.31.20
Lisa’s Room Tax Analysis 07.20
5 Year Analysis Beach, Building, and Transfer Station Revenues 07.20
FY2020-FY2016 Collections-Actual AbatesExemptionsTaxTitle
May 2020 ATM – STM 7.31.20
September 2020 88