HomeMy Public PortalAboutFinance Committee -- 2017-03-08 Minutes \`\\\\11111iti1ti31111 fltffffl!/U////j�/
�`O� �Rewsr ''''� Approved: 3115117
r VOTE: 4-0-1
a � 5
r
i�Dilrollh��� \�@
'//Ui/JU/rlllfftlN1111Il111110�\\\\\\`
TOWN OF BREWSTER
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Location: 2198 Main. Street,Brewster, MA 02631
Date: March S,2017 Time: 6:00 PM
MEETING MINUTES
Present: Chair Michael Fitzgerald, Greg Levasseur, Chuck DeVito, Herb Montgomery, Will DeMaida, Dr.
Madhavi Venkatesan, and Pete Dahl.
Absent: Dennis Hanson and Susan Ballantine
Also present: Betsy Smith, Roderick MacDonald, Police Captain Eldredge, Cape Cod Tech Superintendent
Robert Sanborn, Cape Cod Tech Business Administrator Erin Orcutt, Richard Hoffmann, Kate Clemens,
Town Administrator Mike Ernbury, and others
The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm
E
Recor(iiiig or Tapiiig Not ft'ca loll: `As required by the Open Meeting Law we are informing you that the Town will be audio and
video taping this public meeting. In addition, if anyone else intends to either video or audio tape this meeting they are required to
inform the chair." We request that all cell phones be turned off or to vibrate.
Peter Dahl led the Pledge of Allegiance.
I
. Review&Vote Citizens Warrant Article.—Roderick MacDonald, Captain Eldredge
Brewster residents Betsy Smith and Roderick MacDonald reviewed Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Article 36 regarding Federal Immigration law. The reasons why this article was brought forward were
examined and this article does not change any current laws or practices. Local police do not investigate
a person's immigrant status nor do they enforce immigration laws. Ms. Smith reviewed her time as a
teacher of English as a Second Language and shared some of her experiences. The reason why they are
requesting this article at this time is due to the changes that have taken place at the federal level and to
try to address some people's fears and to make them feel safe.
Captain Eldredge reviewed the Brewster Police Department's role in this area. Currently, when the
Police stop anyone or address victims of a crime, their citizenship is not questioned. If someone is
arrested and their fingerprints are submitted the Police may be notified of an illegal immigrant status and
at that time ICE may become involved. ICE sometimes requests a 48-hour hold on an individual, but the
Police are not sure if the ICE detainer is even legal and this is being investigated further at this time.
There is also a court case currently being heard (Lunn) that may affect this area of the law.
:
Finance Committee Meeting of
March 8, 201 7 Page I of S
t
l
When people are fearful they may not report crimes that they are victims of and there was a brief review
of when different laws were enacted with regard to immigration law. A detainer request is a request and
not a demand and the Police only have to hold someone when a warrant has been issued. It was
expressed that this whole situation has put the Police Department in a difficult position. Concern
expressed about any financial consequences that may affect the town if they do not comply and it is felt
that should this happen,the town will need to address the issue at that time. It is unknown how many
undocumented immigrants are currently in the Town of Brewster. There was further discussion on
potential legal and/or financial consequences and the constitutional protections that are in place for all
persons. This article is to continue the safe community for workers, visitors, and/or residents who have
1
not committed any crimes. In 2003, the Board of Selectmen passed an ordinance similar to this and this
warrant article is just a reminder that people are safe in this community.
Motion made by Greg Levasseur to approve Annual Town Meeting Citizens Petition Article 36 on
Federal Immigration Laws as described by the petitioners. Chuck Devito seconded.
VOTE: 6-0-1
i
The meeting moved to Agenda Item 3.
2. Review& Vote Cape Tech FY'18 Budget.---Bob Sanborn
Cape Cod Regional Technical High School Business Administrator Erin Orcutt reviewed the Cape Cod
Tech proposed FY '18 budget in a power point presentation. There are 43 students enrolled at a .692
percent of enrollment as of October 1, 2017 and this has not changed over last year. Barnstable and
Yarmouth have the largest student populations at Cape Cod Tech. There was a review of the decline in
enrollment. The FY '18 budget increase is 1.89% over FY '17 at$14,732,000. There was a$250,000
capital request in FY '18 and helped to fund a stability fund and this and additional funds from the E &
D account and operating budget helped to fund the feasibility study for the new building. There was a
review of insurances, snow removal, school resource officer, equipment maintenance, and capital
building improvements that the Cape Cod Tech needs to fund themselves. There are three revenue
sources, state aid, local revenue such as investment income and rental fees, and town assessments.
There was a review of why assessments are increasing and what the money is used for. There was a
review of cost drivers in this budget such as salaries, insurance premiums, and transportation. The
capital budget has decreased in the hope that the vote for new building will be successful. OPEB (Other
Post Employment Benefits) were reviewed and Cape Cod Tech has joined the 21-member trust through
Plymouth County OPEB trust and this liability was reviewed. The FY '18 Brewster Assessment was
reviewed.
l
There was a review of the salaries and many veteran teachers once they retire have been replaced with
new teachers that are paid less, Unfortunately, health care costs continue to escalate. Teacher salaries
are reviewed with area schools as well as other vocational schools and there was discussion on how this
was calculated. Cape Cod Tech teachers salary schedule has 12 steps in 6 levels. The Cape Cod Tech 1
contribution split for health insurance is 65135 percent. Circuit breaker funds for Special Education will
be difficult to access due to the number of towns in the district, but will be investigated. Solar will be
considered in the new building. FY '19 will be the last year for the phase out of the two programs being
discontinued. FTE is full-time equivalents and were reduced in this budget. Current E & D reserves are
about$575,000.
a
Finance Committee Meeting of
March 8, 2017 Page 2 of 6
l
Motion made by Greg Levasseur to approve Annual Town Meeting Article 1 for Brewster's share of
the Cape Cad Regional Technical High School Operating Budget for FY 118 at$$31,711to be raised
and appropriated. Herb Montgomery seconded.
VOTE: 7-0-0
3. Review&Discuss Cape Tech Building Project. ---Bob Sanborn
Brewster resident and former Nauset Superintendent Dr. Richard Hoffmann expressed support for the
need of a new school building at Cape Cod Tech and he reviewed the reasons why he supported this
project as a former superintendent and Brewster taxpayer. The building is more than 40 years old and
core systems need to be updated. There was a review of the curriculum and how computers have
changed the technical field. Collaborative learning is not conducive in the current facility and spaces do
not meet state standards. Though the cost is expensive, it is felt it is an investment.
Superintendent Robert Sanborn gave a power point presentation on the building process. Brewster
residents Charles Sumner and Robert Miller are both on the Cape Cod Tech Building Committee. There
was an MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority) update on the Feasibility Study Phase and
Schematic Design Phase. Superintendent Sanborn stated that it was decided by the Building Committee
that new construction to the east of the current facility was the best way to go and stated that this new
building option was defended on February 18, 2017 at the Massachusetts School Building Association
Meeting and Cape Cod Tech was approved to go forward with the Design Phase. There was a review of
the decision process where there were meetings to decide what Cape Tech educational vision should be,
the shops to be included were reviewed as well as other investigations. The different renovation options
and new building options that were investigated were reviewed outlining the pluses and minuses of each.
There was a review of the budget for the option chosen and Brewster's share. It was noted that these
building costs are still estimates though it is expected final numbers will be coming in less. MSBA will
reimburse about 30 percent of the effective rate of the project and it is hoped that the published rate will
go from 42 percent up to 46 percent due to the number of disadvantaged students currently attending the
school. With credits for maintenance and energy efficiencies, the published rate could reach 50 percent.
If this occurs then the overall effective reimbursement rate will be somewhat higher in the 30 percent
range. The construction budget has been figured on 30-year debt service and a 5-percent interest rate
though the interest rate is uncertain since it will be a year and a half before this will be applied for.
The building looks very good though the systems are not in good shape and the school was built in the
1970's when open spaces were designed for education that is not working today. Examples of non-
reimbursable rates are the assumed construction costs at$312 per square foot and current estimates are
coming in at $450 per square foot. Other areas where reimbursement rates are not adequate are site
design and furnishings. The costs to the town will fluctuate every year due to the number of students
attending and there was a brief review of the regional agreement. The interest rate risk was explored
and perhaps if they could find a way to apply quicker could mitigate this risk.
Will DeMaida stated that his wife is an employee of Cape Cod Tech and that he will abstain if he needs
to but wanted to add to the conversation. Concern was expressed about the potential of increasing
construction material costs and this project is expected to be a design-build project that's a bidding
project with the expected bid date about 18 months following a positive vote in October. Once the bid
i
Finance Committee Meeting of
March 8, 2017 Page 3 of 6
has been accepted,the bidder will be locked into that number so the escalating assumptions are theirs to
make though here has been some provision made for the potential increase in material construction
costs.
There was a review of the Building Committee's charge that was to shepherd this project from the
beginning to the end of the project. The MSBA wants the educational value pushing the construction
budget and not the cost of the construction. There was a review of the technical shops that will remain
following the curriculum review and these are Graphic Arts that will be upgraded overtime to Graphic
Communications or Design and Visual Communications, Health Technologies potentially changing to
Medical Assisting instead of CNA preparation, HVAC, Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Information '
Technologies, Engineering Technology, Dental Assisting but will lose the dental clinic currently housed
at the Tech, Horticulture and Landscape Design with a greenhouse, Auto Technology, Auto Body,
Cosmetology, Culinary Arts and Marine Mechanics. Masonry, Hospitality, and Early Childhood
Education are no longer offered. Concern was expressed about the spaces in the new building being
flexible and it is felt that this has been considered in the new design and may be reconfigured over time.
The current building is 214,000 square feet and the new building will be 219,000 square feet. The
MSBA will reimburse as the project goes along, but will not reimburse for administrative or grounds
maintenance spaces. Cash flow could be an issue. It was suggested to perhaps to move the
administration out of the building to mitigate this cost. Concern expressed about the uncertainty of the
number of items the MSBA will not or may not pay. The MSBA recommended that the school be built
for 624 students and it was negotiated up to 650 students. There was concern about the decline in
enrollment. Enrollment projections are of concern. The approval process of the project was reviewed
and the vote needs to be taken in all towns on the same day and the polling hours need to be greater than
4 hours. The town clerks in all towns have been met with and a date was chosen. This will be a
majority district-wide ballot vote in an election to take place on the same day in October 2017. The
towns of Mashpee, Barnstable, Yarmouth and Dennis will probably make up the majority of the vote. It
was suggested that the project costs be possibly kept under control by limiting the wow factor in the
majority of the project. The new building will have a sprinkler system. Concern expressed about the
increase in the tax rate and those students who are economically disadvantaged came from
disadvantaged families who may not be able to afford the real estate tax increase particularly with the
other capital expenditures facing the Town of Brewster currently. It was recommended to look at
different financing options. j
Concern was expressed about building a school for 650 students in the era of decreasing enrollments
though it was expressed that vocational education is important and support for the project was
expressed. There was a review of the expected reimbursement rate that was figured on current I
reimbursement rate though it is expected it may be increased. Economically disadvantaged students I
criteria was reviewed and this is identified by any goverment program that the student may be enrolled
in and this is reviewed with the state average. There is no safety issue or risk to students as it relates to
the current building. Cape Cod Tech is trying to have a 21St Century building to allow technical and
academic classrooms be in proximity of each other to improve instruction and allow collaboration on
projects. It is hoped to have more hands on education in the academic areas. This project will be LEAD
certified though it is unknown at what level. A LEAD certified building is a focus of the MSBA and the
OPM (Owner's Project Manager) and the Architect were chosen with this in mind. Renewable energy
technologies have been included in current programs that are offered. It was suggested that the levels of
LEAD Certification be reviewed to see what the differences are in the different levels and how they may {
i
relate to the education of the students as well as the cost of construction. Page 24 of the budget
Finance Committee Meeting of
March 8, 2017 Page 4 of 6
i
1
i
I
3
document reviewed the post-graduate follow-up study that helps to illustrate the success of Cape Cod
Tech students. Unfortunately the report is only one year out.
There was discussion on the cost of the building and concern expressed about the cost per square foot
and the materials used should be considered carefully. It is felt that the cost per square footage may be
less due to the square footage of the building being reduced. The highest number that the
Superintendent saw was about$505 a square foot and this will be investigated further. Parking issues
during construction were reviewed and the bus loop no longer being utilized may be turned into a
temporary parking area. The administration area is currently planned to be in the new building.
Mike Fitzgerald is on the Culinary Advisory Board at Cape Cod Tech and he is very familiar with the
school. The final cost estimates are due in late June and then there will be a series of workshops held to
inform the public about what is going to happen with more specifics. It was expressed that follow-up
data on graduates was difficult to collect. The operating costs of the new facility will be a consideration
but will be difficult to estimate until building decisions are made. Costs in the different shop areas and
the costs of the programs were a consideration in this process and two shops were eliminated in the
process. The costs of the new building will affect the tax rate at .12 to .18 cents on the thousand. The
average home will pay a total of approximately $1,900 more in taxes over 30 years and this may change
the perspective.
The meeting returned to Agenda Item#2.
4. Review&Vote Revised FY'l8 Budgets. —Mike Embury
Due to the lateness of the hour,this agenda item was postponed until next week.
I
1
I
I
5. Review &Vote Warrant Articles. Mike Embury
Due to the lateness of the hour, this agenda item was postponed until next week.
t
E
6. Update Meeting Schedule.— Mike Fitzgerald i
Due to the lateness of the hour, this agenda item was postponed until next week.
1
7. Discussion Regarding Information Requests for Upcoming meetings.
Due to the lateness of the hour,this agenda item was postponed until next week. j
1
S. Liaison Reports. Future Meeting Agenda Item Requests.
Due to the lateness of the hour, this agenda item was postponed until next week.
9. Approve Minutes March 1 st 2017 Meeting.
Due to the lateness of the hour,this agenda item was postponed until next week.
Finance Committee Meeting of
March 8, 2017 Page 5 of 6
Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate.1
There were no other topics discussed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:27 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
3
mac--
Donna J. Moberg, Recording Secretary 3
Items used at the Meeting:
• Town Meeting Warrant Articles for May 1, 2017
• Cape Cod Tech power point presentation on FY '18 budget
• Information on proposed Cape Cod Tech new school
i
t
i
I
!I!
f
f
Y
ii
f
1
3
f
I
4
3
Finance Committee Meeting of
March 8, 2017 Page 6 of 6
i