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HomeMy Public PortalAbout04.07.21 FinCom PacketTown of Brewster Finance Committee 2198 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631 fincommeeting@brewster-ma.gov (508) 896-3701 MEETING AGENDA Remote Participation Only April 7, 2021 at 6:00 PM This meeting will be conducted by remote participation pursuant to Gov. Baker’s March 2020 orders suspending certain Open Meeting Law provisions and imposing limits on public gatherings. No in-person meeting attendance will be permitted. If the Town is unable to live broadcast this meeting, a record of the proceedings will be provided on the Town website as soon as possible. The meeting may be viewed by: Live broadcast (Brewster Government TV Channel 18), Livestream (livestream.brewster- ma.gov), or Video recording (tv.brewster-ma.gov). Meetings may be joined by: 1. Phone: Call (929) 436-2866 or (301) 715-8592. Webinar ID: 814 5568 0821 Passcode: 546055 To request to speak: Press *9 and wait to be recognized. 2. Zoom Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81455680821?pwd=SUtNOCtYUHgxdkIyUFVJYzVNQjZXdz09 Passcode: 546055 To request to speak: Tap Zoom “Raise Hand” button or type “Chat” comment with your name and address, then wait to be recognized. Finance Committee Harvey (Pete) Dahl Chair Frank Bridges Vice Chair William Meehan Clerk Andrew Evans Alex Hopper Honey Pivorotto Robert Tobias Robert Young Town Administrator Peter Lombardi Finance Director Mimi Bernardo 1.Declaration of a Quorum 2.Meeting Participation Statement 3.Recording Statement 4.Public Announcements and Comment: Members of the public may address the Finance Committee on matters not on the meeting’s agenda for a maximum 3-5 minutes at the Chair’s discretion. Under the Open Meeting Law, the Finance Committee is unable to reply but may add items presented to a future agenda. 5.Welcome Guests 6.Town Administrator/Finance Director Report 7.Policies and Procedures Update (Standing Item) 8.Discussion and Vote Road Betterment – Article 23 9. Discussion and Vote on remaining Town Meeting Warrant Articles 10. Discuss and approve Finance Committee Report - Town Meeting Warrant 11. Discuss and approve Finance Committee Report – Annual Town Report 12. Liaison Reports 13. Review and Approval of Minutes 14. Request for agenda items for future meetings. 15. Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair 16. Site Visit 4/15 – Cape Tech 17. Next Finance Committee Meeting – 04/21/21 18. Adjournment Date Posted:Date Revised:Received by Town Clerk: 4/5/21 Town of Brewster 2198 Main Street Brewster, MA 02631-1898 Phone: (508) 896-3701 Fax: (508) 896-8089 TO: Select Board FROM: Peter Lombardi, Town Administrator RE: IAFF Local 3763 FY21 Collective Bargaining Agreement DATE: March 26, 2021 The Town and Fire Union recently renewed contract negotiations. As a result of these discussions, the Town and Fire Union have tentatively agreed to the following terms, which the union has affirmatively voted to ratify. These terms are exactly consistent with what was previously agreed to by both parties last September. 1. 1 Year Term (FY21 – July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021) 2. Amend all references of “Board of Selectmen” to “Select Board”. 3. Amend Article 11, Section 7 Standby as follows: “All employees shall be furnished with department communication equipment designed to support the notification of off-duty personnel during recall events.” 4. Amend Article 12, Section 1 Holidays Add Juneteenth (June 19) holiday 5. Amend Article 14, Section 2 Sick Leave Increase maximum accumulated sick days from 180 to 190 in line with current practice and other union agreements 6. Amend Article 15 Bereavement Add partner and stepchildren to immediate family, move sisters/brothers and step- parents from extended to immediate family, increase leave for extended family by 1 day from 3 to 4, and add step-brother/sister/grandchild to extended family list. 7. Add new Section to Article 23 Licenses and/or Certification Add a new $15/day Paramedic Refresher Meal Stipend for offsite trainings (with receipts – proof of payment) 8. Amend Article 24, Section 1 Uniforms and Foul Weather Gear Remove reference to $150 cleaning allowance (now included in base pay). Office of: Select Board Town Administrator 9. Amend Article 24, Section 3 Uniforms and Foul Weather Gear Increase annual amount from $750 to $1000 & memorialize current practice for Class A uniforms and new hires. 10. Amend Article 27, Section 9 Miscellaneous (Fire Prevention Officer) to read as follows: “1. The Fire Prevention Officer is assigned to work within the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Department under the direction of the Deputy Chief and Chief of Department. In addition to his/her normal fire prevention duties the Fire Prevention Officer shall also be responsible to assist the Chief and Deputy Chief with special projects, details, and other duties as assigned. 2. The Fire Prevention Officer position shall be a staff position within the department. The individual assigned shall be compensated at a Captain's rate of pay. He/she shall not assume any fireground authority other than that provided by this agreement under Article 9 Seniority. The position of Fire Prevention Officer shall have a work schedule of four (4) ten (10) hour days per week. The workweek shall be Monday through Thursday 0800-1800. During the course of his/her normal duties the Fire Prevention Officer’s uniform shall be a white 5/11 polo shirt with their position indicated as “Fire Prevention Officer”. 3. In the event a tested Shift Captain assumes the role of Fire Prevention Officer said individual shall maintain his/her rank, wages, title, and uniform designation.” 11. Add new Section 10 to Article 27 Miscellaneous re. Vehicle Design & Specification Committee to read as follows: “Prior to developing specifications for new Emergency Medical, Fire Apparatus, or other specialty vehicle as determined by the Fire Chief a committee of three full-time personnel shall be established. In the event the committee is designing a new emergency medical vehicle the EMS Coordinator shall be included but not counted toward full-time representation. Notification and selection of full-time members shall follow Article 10 Section 1 of the current contract. The committee shall be responsible to make recommendations to the Chiefs office concerning the design, carried equipment, and specifications of said vehicle. The Fire Chief reserves the right to make all final decisions concerning same. Members serving on this committee shall do so on a voluntary basis.” 12. Add new Section 11 to Article 27 Miscellaneous to read as follows: “In the event that the Town offices are closed by order of the Town Administrator due to inclement weather or related emergency conditions and employees impacted by such closure are unable to work remotely, essential employees covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement shall be granted equivalent compensatory time.” 13. Add new Section 12 to Article 27 Miscellaneous Establish a minimum living radius of 15 miles and a minimum callback radius of 9 miles. 14. Amend Article 30, Section 3 Longevity as follows: “The longevity plan is eliminated in its entirety for all employees hired on or subsequent to July 1, 2015.” 15. Amend Article 31 Compensation FY21: 1% COLA retro to July 1, 2020 16. Amend Article 36 Stipends as follows: A) “The Town will provide an annual stipend of $1,000.00 to a member assigned as the Vehicle, Facility, and Equipment Maintenance Manager. This stipend shall be paid in the first pay period of each July. Primary responsibilities include completing minor maintenance and repairs to equipment including vehicles, referring equipment repairs to vendors, minor facility repair/maintenance, coordinating the annual testing of ladders, pumps, SCBA, extrication equipment, and hose, ordering replacement parts, and assisting the Chief and/or Deputy Chief on other maintenance related issues. Work performed in this capacity shall be administered by the Fire Chief and/or Deputy Chief. The Fire Chief retains the right to assign a member to this position following Section 1 of Article 10 Job Posting and Bidding or to refrain from filling this stipended position. B) The Town will provide an annual stipend of $1,000.00 to a member assigned as the Mobile Computer and Software Maintenance Manager and a $500.00 annual stipend to a member assigned as the alternate Mobile Computer and Software Maintenance Manager. These stipends shall be paid in the first pay period of each July. Primary responsibilities include attending applicable meetings and training sessions, performing minor maintenance and repair of all computer components and software, coordinating upgrades and system improvements, coordinating new purchases with appropriate vendors, coordinating with Brewster Information Technology staff and Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office Information Technology staff when needed, and training fire department personnel on mobile computer systems. Work performed in this capacity shall be administered by the Fire Chief and/or Deputy Chief. The Fire Chief retains the right to assign a member to this position following Section 1 of Article 10 Job Posting and Bidding or to refrain from filling this stipended position.” 17. Amend Article 41 Training Time Increase annual cap from 24 to 36 hours per person and formalize Deputy Chief review/approval. 18. Amend Article 45 Video Surveillance Cameras, Location Delete last sentence of third paragraph, as it refers to the former fire station building, and amend last sentence in section to use video from surveillance camera only for investigative purposes in response to specific incidents. 19. Add new Article 46 Paramedic Training to read as follows: “Any current employee taking a paramedic training and certification program, or new employee hired as a Firefighter/Paramedic who is enrolled in a paramedic training and certification program said employee will be given a three-thousand five-hundred dollar ($3500.00) one-time bonus for receiving certification as a Massachusetts licensed Paramedic with authorization to practice from Cape and Island Emergency Medical Services. Any employees who receive this one-time payment and leave employment with the Town within less than one (1) year after receiving certification shall reimburse the Town the entire payment amount prior to separation. With approval by the Chief, when the paramedic student has required classroom time and is on duty, the Chief may provide administrative leave for the paramedic student when the vacancy created will not affect minimum staffing levels for that period or create the need to fill the employees shift with overtime personnel.” 20. Add new Article 47 Station Coverage Transfer current policy to contract (see attached). 21. Add new Parental Leave Policy consistent with state statute. See attached. 22. Incorporate terms of Fire Academy & Training Memorandum of Agreement between Town and Union from January 2021 See attached. After the Select Board discussion and vote on this matter, Town Meeting will then need to vote in May 2020 before the contract terms take effect. We have sufficient funding in the FY21 operating budget to cover all elements of this new one-year contract. The Town and Fire Union continue to negotiate a two-year successor agreement (FY22-23). REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Fiscal Year 2022 Dear Town Meeting Members: What a challenging year it has been. The pandemic put health and lives at risk, changed our behaviors, left us feeling anxious, isolated, vulnerable. And yet, we carry on. And Brewster Town government carried on stepping up to the challenge, its operating rules flexing with the ebb and flow of the severity of the pandemic. Town government adapted to remote work when possible. Town Boards and Committees met remotely by Zoom, maintaining all important openness and transparency in government. Based on its frequency of use this past year, perhaps the new town motto should be “You’re on Mute!”. In the fiscal year starting July 1, 2020, The Brewster Finance Committee, consisting of up to nine members appointed by the elected Town Moderator, has met 21 times up to the date of publication of this Town Meeting Warrant to undertake its duties; those being to consider all articles in the Town Meeting warrant, and report its recommendations to Town Meeting. If we consider our elected Select Board the Executive Branch of Town government, then the eligible Brewster voters appearing at Town Meeting represent the Legislative Branch of Town government. The Finance Committee seeks to serve Town Meeting members, our legislators, by informing your debate and deliberations with our reviews and recommendations. As with all good committees, members of the Finance Committee do not always agree. Our votes appear following each article of the warrant, as do those of the Select Board. We offer some selective commentary below. Town Operating Budgets Our votes recommending your approval of the Town Operating Budget as well as those in support of Golf Department, Water Department, & Capital and Special Projects Expenditures are the result of our having the opportunity to meet jointly with the Select Board to hear budget presentations by, and ask questions of, Town Department Heads. You may watch the video recordings of these meetings and we think you will agree with our recommendations. You should note that Golf and Water Department costs are fully funded by Golf & Water usage fee revenues, respectively. School Operating Budgets School budgets represent a significant share of the spending you will decide upon at Town Meeting. Brewster is one of twelve towns in the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School District; Brewster’s assessment, based on enrollment, appears in Annual Town Meeting warrant article 1. The funding request for Brewster Elementary Schools – the Stony Brook School (grades PreK-2) and the Eddy School (grades 3-5) – appears in warrant article 2. Brewster Elementary Schools are part of the Nauset Regional School District but Town Meeting votes on their budget separately. Finally, Brewster is one of four towns in the Nauset Regional School District that includes a District Middle School, a District High School and Elementary Schools in each of the four District Towns. Brewster’s assessment, based on enrollment, appears in warrant article 3. Note that you elect representatives to school committees overseeing each of these three education entities in the annual Town Election. Pandemic aside, perhaps most consequential to Brewster voters this year has been the subject of a new High School for the Nauset Regional School District. This January, the Finance Committee voted 3 in favor and 5 opposed to supporting and recommending to the voters in Brewster the High School Project. This March, the District (6,321 in favor, 2,577 opposed) and the Town (2,160 in favor, 1,456 opposed) overwhelmingly supported the High School Project. To be clear, the members of the Finance Committee are united in agreement for the need of a new high school. The District has an excellent education program rated among the best in the state; we need a high school that can support & maintain that excellence deep into the century. We congratulate and commend the Nauset Regional School Committee and the Nauset Regional High School Building Committee on their work thus far and offer our counsel and support for their work in the future. The Finance Committee members opposed to the High School Project, and I suspect, a number of those who voted ‘opposed’ in the March election voted so based on their feelings about School Choice, the state-wide program that allows Out-of-District students (258 students representing 18% of combined Middle & High School enrollment on October 1, 2020) to attend Nauset District schools at a state-fixed fee well below the average cost per District student. Strong arguments have been made both for and against the extensive use and impact of School Choice. The Finance Committee notes that, along with the high educational excellence rating, Nauset District cost per student is also among the highest in the state, compelling the Finance Committee to seek a better understanding of the value - costs and benefits – of School Choice. Our position might be stated thusly, to borrow the words of a former college professor, ‘it is our duty to pay every dollar necessary to provide our children an outstanding education, but not one dollar more!’ The Finance Committee has been unable to obtain and analyze the facts necessary to adequately assess the impact of School Choice to provide the clarity around this issue that we think taxpayers deserve. The Finance Committee votes on Warrant Article 3, Nauset Regional Schools Operating Budget (3 in favor, 4 opposed, 1 abstention) and on Warrant Article 26, Citizens Petition/School Choice (4 in favor, 4 opposed), reflect the Committee’s desire to raise awareness of School Choice, improve transparency around it, and better inform our taxpayers. To that end, we note the Select Board has a Strategic Plan Goal (Goal #G8) to “Foster stronger relationships with Nauset School District officials, especially regarding finances.” We sincerely hope all key stakeholders will embrace that goal to include knowledge sharing around School Choice. In closing, the Finance Committee applauds the work of so many town and school employees for their “above and beyond” efforts in service, in this most trying year. We especially acknowledge and appreciate our close working relationship with the Select Board, the Town Administrator, Finance Director, Assistant Town Administrators and the many Department Heads and their staff who helped us understand the work they do, and the budget and other warrant articles here presented. Finally, we thank you, the voters who attend Town Meeting and undertake to do the business of the Town. We are proud to serve you and the Town of Brewster, happy legislating! Respectfully submitted, Harvey (Pete) Dahl, Chairman Frank Bridges, Vice Chair William Meehan, Clerk Andrew Evans Alex Hopper Honey Pivorotto Robert Tobias Robert Young 4/5/21 11:46 AM REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE The Finance Committee currently consists of eight members who are appointed by the Town Moderator. New members are appointed each year so that members serve staggered three-year terms. The Committee meets throughout the year, usually weekly during the Town’s budget review process. The Committee reviews all operating budgets, other issues that may have a financial tax impact on town residents, as well as all Spring and Fall Town Meeting warrant articles. The Finance Committee is ably supported by Town staff including Peter Lombardi (Town Administrator), Mimi Bernardo (Finance Director), and Beth Devine ( NEED TITLE) who regularly attend all meetings. The Committee’s main purpose is to represent the interests of Brewster taxpayers and is, therefore, independent of the elected and appointed Town administrators. The Committee provides recommendations and guidance to voting taxpayers for their consideration at Town Meetings. Committee members also attend other Town board and committee meetings as liaisons. Members expend significant personal time reviewing and evaluating department budgets, warrant articles, and reports. Finance Committee members perform cost/benefit evaluations of Town governmental operations. In the taxpayers’ interest, the Committee will continue its thorough analysis of all expenses to promote efficiencies and prudent financial management practices. As part of these evaluations, the Finance Committee meets with Town staff members as well as with Department heads to review budgets and to learn more about new initiatives, other sources of revenues, actual expenditures, and forecasts for the remainder of the fiscal year. The Finance Committee controls a $100,000 Reserve Fund to provide emergency appropriations for any Town department that may request funding due to an unforeseen shortfall in their operating budget. Appropriation of these reserve funds requires a formal request through the Town Administrator, a public review by the Committee, and a majority affirmative vote of the Committee. During this year of the pandemic, the Finance Committee monitored closely those departments with budgets, in particular those that included projected revenues. Despite our trepidation of what local receipts would look like broadly as well as the property tax collection rate, revenues came in strong and better than expected in this pandemic. Earlier in the year we ended up bringing in more revenues than projected and local receipts were over projections including the major drivers: vehicle excise, meals tax, lodging tax, trash/beach permits, and building permits. Projections/receipts for those departments, e.g., Golf, Water, that are self-supporting including capital needs (no tax revenue from the tax payers fund either of these) were also strong. The Finance Committee devoted a great deal of its meetings to discussions about the Nauset Regional School District operating budgets as well as to discussion about the significant capital plan for renovation and construction of the high school. We were well informed by Peter Lombardi who briefed us regularly on updates between Finance Committee meetings. We met jointly with the Select Board for NRSD presentations, heard school officials describe the program need for the project, discussed analyses that the Finance Committee performed examining funding needs for this project and the higher tax implications for Brewster residents, worked to understand the enrollment projections and the per student costs for students from the 4/5/21 11:46 AM four towns, and the per student costs for those students coming from outside the district including those students in the CHOICE program, and received the results from the special election held on March 30th. The approval of this capital project on March 30th and the initiation/completion of this project will result in increased taxes for all Brewster property owners. During this year Brewster Finance Committee members acted as liaisons to Town boards, committees, and commissions to facilitate effective communication between those groups and the Finance Committee. As the primary role of the Finance Committee is to review budgets and make recommendations to Town Meeting, the role of a Finance Committee liaison is primarily of a financial advisory nature. During the remainder of this year, the Finance Committee will continue to perform cost/benefit analyses of all Town financial commitments. The Committee will also play an active and guiding role in evaluating the needs and additional services required of our fellow residents as a result of the pandemic. Respectfully submitted, Pete Dahl, Chair Frank Bridges, Vice Chair Bill Meehan, Clerk Andy Evans Alex Hopper Honey Pivirotto Robert Tobias Bob Young