HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - CBC - 10/15/2014 Minutes — Capital Budget Committee Wednesday October 15, 2014
Basement Meeting Room — Cohasset Town Hall
Present Jack Keniley
Sam Wakeman
Brian Host
Susan Franklin
Chris Allen
Scott Henry
Meeting called to order at 7:01pm by Chairman Keniley
1. Approval of Minutes 10/1/2014 (5-0)
2. IT Update
Rob Bonnell was, again, unable to attend the meeting. Chris Senior provided a written update.
The CBC decided to postpone the review until Rob was available to attend because the written
report had no explanation of the work finished and/or yet to be done. Chris will ask Rob to be
at the 10/22 meeting. Sam Wakeman will send everyone the spreadsheet with the original
review items and the deadlines that were presented to CBC at the meeting by Rob.
3. Review of Appropriated and Unspent Capital Items
The committee reviewed the appropriated but unspent capital items with Mary and Brian.
The Committee members felt we should go through the list one more time with Chris so that
we are clear on the status of these many items. The Committee members were concerned
about the lack of progress on some items and questioned whether or not Town Hall has
sufficient manpower and/or resources to manage multiple capital projects. We may want to
consider reviewing the process for managing the capital projects.
CBC members also raised concerns that none of the IT items purchased in the IT funding cycles
had been inventoried. CBC members suggest that money be repurposed out of the capital
asset appropriation for the purchase of inventory software that would be compatible with the
accounting software.
4. Review of Capital Items for STM 2014 (Nov 17t", 2014)
a. SSL and Elder Affairs citizen's Petition
Representatives from the Social Service League (SSL) Glenn Pratt Marita Carpenter, Joel
Carpenter; presented a status report of the construction of the facility and provided the
committee with a Sources & Uses table. The facility will cost approximately $3.7 million when
finished. Attendees all had very complementary things to say about the quality and the design
of the building. All agreed the building will be a great addition to the town's infrastructure.
The SSL has raised almost 3.5 million dollars, 2 million from the SSL trust and 1.5 million from
pledges. Of the 1.5 million in pledges, $800k is cash in the bank. The rest will come to SSL over
the next three years. In addition, SSL has a $700k note from Rockland Trust to be used to
finish the construction of the building. So the bottom line is the SSL need to raise an
additional $200k to finish the project.
The SSL would like to move into the building by January. In order to do so, the SSL must find a
way to bridge the financing gap and pay the operating costs of the building until the funds are
raised and the building is gifted to the town. It could take approximately three years to finish
the fundraising. This is the reason the citizens have posted a citizens petition to compel STM
to enter into a lease with the SSL.
Lease Petition
CBC members suggested that a citizens petition was not the way to manage the problem
because to the political ramifications of compelling the town to sign a lease. CBC members
suggested that the SSL, the Elder Affairs leadership and the town manager find a way to craft a
deal that will allow the SSL to open and keep the issue away from STM 2014. All parties
agreed to meet. Capital Budget will put SSL. Elder Affairs on the agenda for 10/22 if the
parties cannot negotiate a deal. CBC will then review and vote on the citizen's petition if
necessary.
F,F, & E Request
Members were less concerned about the request for furniture, fixtures and equipment so that
the Elder Affairs Department could begin using the new facility. CBC members expressed their
dissatisfaction with the fact that the request were not made in the 2015 capital budget
approval cycle. CBC members agreed that the items could be seen as leasehold improvements
to be funded at STM. Members agreed to return to this issue at the next meeting so that the
Elder Affairs Department had time to work out the solution to the budget gap and lease issues.
b. Fire Department Lift
Captain Silva presented a request for a lift for the ambulance. CBC members felt it was a
good idea, but, they wanted to deliberate on the item in the budget cycle, ie. the
committee will consider the request as part of the Fire Departments overall capital
requirements for the 2016 budget cycle. As a policy, CBC will not be considering capital
requests "off-cycle" anymore. We encourage all departments to include all capital requests
in the capital budget forecast. The CBC voted not to deliberate on the item and to move it
to the ATM.
c. Police Jail Cell Repurpose Request
Police did not send a representative. Chris will reach out to Chief Quigley and ask him to
attend the 10/22 meeting.
d. Fire Hydrant for Government Island
The Cohasset Sailing Club does not have to install sprinklers as per a ruling by an
administrative judge. The CSC will be able to get their C of 0 and the pressure is off to run
a 6" line to the parking area. CBC will consider the fire hydrant install as part of the 2016
capital budget cycle for the ATM.
e. DPW truck appropriation
The CBC voted 5-0 to approve funds for a new truck. Total funds to recommend to the
Advisory board and the Selectmen is $41,520.
Meeting adjourned at 9:35pm