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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20230309 - Select Board - Meeting Minutes (003)TOWN OF HOPKINTON Select Board Meeting Minutes –March 9,2023 77 Main Street,Hopkinton MA -HCAM-TV Studio 6:00 PM Select Board Members Present:Amy Ritterbusch,Chair,Irfan Nasrullah,Muriel Kramer, Shahidul Mannan Select Board Members Absent:Mary Jo LaFreniere,Vice Chair Officials Present:Town Manager Norman Khumalo,Assistant Town Manager Elaine Lazarus CALL TO ORDER:Chair Amy Ritterbusch called the public meeting to order at 6:00 PM in the HCAM-TV Studio.She confirmed that Irfan Nasrullah and Shahidul Mannan,participating remotely,could hear and be heard. The School Committee called its meeting to Order.Members Nancy Richard-Cavanaugh,Chair, Jennifer Devlin,Holly Morand and Amanda Fargiano were present;member Lya Batlle-Rafferty was absent. FY 2024 BUDGET -JOINT WORKING SESSION WITH SCHOOL COMMITTEE:The Select Board held a Joint Working Session with the School Committee on the proposed Comprehensive FY 2024 budget.Mr.Khumalo stated that since the last meeting,the Governor ’s proposed budget was released and the Local Aid figures are now known.He noted it is the beginning of the State budget process,which will move through the Legislature.Tim O’Leary, Chief Financial Officer,stated the FY24 Budget problem is solvable.He stated more the Governor ’s budget includes more Local Aid than anticipated,along with reduced State charges. He stated that Eversource did not appeal its most recent tax assessment for the first time since 2014,noting that the FY24 budget proposal anticipated an appeal in Feb.2024,and now the consideration is whether they might file at that time.He stated that offsetting these positive developments,health care costs for the current year are well above what was budgeted,and what was projected for FY24 is now very insufficient.He advised considering these costs associated with hiring new employees in FY24.Mr.Khumalo noted that the Town is currently negotiating with health care providers,and is certain that the initial number for health care in FY24 will be substantially higher.He stated the exact budget gap number is not known today,but they hope to have a more definite number for the Select Board meeting on March 14.Mr.O’Leary stated that from the beginning of this budget cycle,the Select Board stated that a 5.1%increase is the goal. He stated there will be less revenue projected as New Growth revenue declines over time,and fiscal discipline will be important moving forward. Mr.Khumalo stated the purpose of the meeting is to continue collaborative dialogue,the budget is not final until it gets to Town Meeting and there are a lot of moving parts.Carol Cavanaugh, 1 School Superintendent,reviewed projected enrollment in future years,noting that current enrollment is already ahead of projections for this year and next.Mr.Khumalo stated that the Select Board will move the budget forward to the Appropriation Committee,with the understanding that the numbers will continue to change over time,and the Board will continue to work with the Appropriation Committee. Mr.Mannan asked if the problem areas or opportunities should be discussed now so people can be working on them.Mr.Nasruillah stated keeping the five year horizon in mind is key,rather than looking only at small snippets each year.Ms.Devlin asked if the School budget needs to be revised before the Select Board meeting on March 14,and the consensus was yes,with a number likely known tomorrow.Ms.Cavanaugh stated she needs to go back through their department process with a number when it is received.She asked if the Eversource funds and the health insurance increase cancel each other out,and the response was no.Ms.Fargiano stated that last week it seemed as though the Select Board wanted to limit all budgets to 5.1%,and this was not anticipated.She asked for an indication of the Board mindset and rationale.Ms. Richard-Cavanaugh stated that the increase for the schools last year was 2.88%,and needs have increased since then.She stated the school budget process starts early and is built from the ground up,and there are concerns about cuts that mean lowering the level of service.Mr. Khumalo clarified that the school budget increased 4.9%last year.Ms.Ritterbusch stated she does not support a decrease in level of service,and suggested paying for capital projects in other ways and paying for some one-time expenses with one-time money.It was noted that there have been few one-time expenses identified in the school budget.Ms.Fargiano stated the School is making use of its revolving funds to reduce the budget request from what it could be.Ms. Kramer stated she would like to know the revolving fund balances and how they are being used. She stated what she has been struggling with the most is the capital plan burden going forward, which affects operating budgets in the future.She stated she would like something sustainable that she can stand behind.She noted there are other capital projects not included in the plan yet, such as the Town’s water problem.She stated that today’s problem can be solved today,but if that makes tomorrow’s problem unsolvable,then the job is not complete.She worried that some residents will not be able to afford what is being requested.Mr.Nasrullah agreed,noting that everyone should be aware of the financial constraints involved.Mr.Mannan stated the Town has grown and the budget has been managed well during this time.He stated the Town used the growth money and didn’t address the needs related to growth,and is paying for that now.He expressed concern about the loss of quality services,and advocated for an expansion of the tax base through economic development,and use of Center School and Elmwood School as new revenue opportunities.He urged people to be creative and action oriented. Ms.Ritterbusch stated she can support the school budget as submitted as long as there isn’t an override,and some capital projects can be postponed.She asked members if they support that direction.Ms.Kramer stated she would need to think about a sustainable number.Ms. Cavanaugh reviewed statistics indicating how Hopkinton ranks as compared to other school districts in a variety of categories.She stated Hopkinotn ranks low except for its funding of professional development opportunities.School Committee members discussed the per pupil expenditure figure,stating it is low compared to similar communities. 2 Mr.O’Leary stated the tax impact of the capital plan and operating budgets with an 8%increase for the schools,7%for public safety and others at 5.1%or less,means the tax bill for the average single family home would go from $12,000 to $18,000.He stated this can be done within the tax levy,and it’s a conscious decision as to how to go forward.Ms.Richard-Cavanaugh noted that capital expenses should not be included in the calculation because they have not been voted yet. She stated they want to work with the Town to avoid huge increases,and voters can reject the capital requests.Ms.Kramer stated she thinks that voters are likely to support the Elmwood School replacement project,and the total capital package for big school projects equals $200 million,so people need to talk about it.She stated she can’t separate the operating costs from the capital costs.Ms.Richard-Cavanaugh expressed concern that the school system will be made worse.Ms.Kramer stated she needs to know what the impacts are,even if they are hard.Ms. Cavanaugh expressed concerns about new students coming into the district and that there won’t be room for them or staff. Ms.Ritterbusch asked if the Select Board is comfortable going forward with the budget as it is now,or if it will ask the School Committee to reduce its budget request.Mr.Mannan stated he would keep the school budget as is and continue to evaluate as the process moves forward.Ms. Kramer stated in the future the Board may wish to look at the budget process so that it avoids getting to a point that triggers purely emotional reactions. MOVED by Jennifer Devlin and SECONDED by Holly Morand to adjourn the School Committee meeting.Vote to Approve:Yes-4,No-0. Mr.Mannan left the meeting at this time. DRAFT IMA -SOUTHBOROUGH MWRA INTERCONNECTION PROJECT:The Board reviewed the draft Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA)for the Southborough indirect Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA)connection project.Mr.Khumalo stated the Southborough annual town meeting is coming up,and the draft IMA has been provided for the Board’s review in advance of its meeting next week.He described the IMA,noting it is a 25 year agreement that outlines the obligations during design,construction,and post-construction.He noted that Hopkinton will be helping Southborough with three water related projects via the agreement.It was clarified that Hopkinton is purchasing water from Southborough which is part of its assigned volume from the MWRA that it is not using.Ms.Kramer asked how it will satisfy Hopkinton’s needs if Southborough’s needs change.Mr.Khumalo stated the jAgreement guarantees a specific volume,but the Town will also continue to look at other ways to connect to the MWRA,including via the Route 495 right of way.He noted that the MWRA is currently reviewing its master plan.He stated there are a few details still being discussed with Southborough,including allocation of operation and maintenance costs in the future. MOVED by Ms.Kramer and SECONDED by Mr.Nasrullah to adjourn the meeting.Roll Call vote:Ritterbusch-Yes;Nasrullah-Yes;Kramer-Yes.Vote to Approve:Yes-3,No-0. Adjourned:7:48 PM 3 Approved:March 28,2023 Documents used at the meeting: Intermunicipal Water Supply Agreement By and Between the Towns of Hopkinton and Southborough, undated 4