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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - AC - 03/31/2015 ., Town of Cohasset Massachusetts MEETING MINUTES Town of Cohasset Advisory Committee TIME: March 31, 2015 7:00 pm - 9:38 pm PLACE: Cohasset Town Hall, Lower Level Meeting Room ATTENDEES: Advisory Committee Presenters • Peter Pescatore, Chair • Jack Keniley • Bob Benson • Bob Silvia • George Chamillard • Barbara Cataldo • John Chapman • David Degennaro • Richard Fitzpatrick • Paul Ognibene • Lynda Mooney • Nan Roth Town Manager Selectmen 1. Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Peter Pescatore, Chair of the Advisory Committee. 2. Capital Budget Jack Keniley reviewed the role of the Capital Budget Committee and financial status of the fund. Reference was made to a Powerpoint presentation previously distributed to Committee members. This was followed by a review of the Capital Budget Committee's recommended proj ects/acquisitions: • Refurbish Pumper Truck: This is now the reserve truck. It was well-built by a highly regarded manufacturer, and a refurbishment is expected to last 10 years. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Town of March 31, 2015 Cohasset Page 2 ~r`' Massachusetts This will allow an earlier than planned replacement of a 14-year-old truck that was not as well-built to start with and is not expected to last much longer. The older truck will become the `phase 2' truck once it has been refurbished and the deteriorating 14 year-old truck will become the reserve. • Powered ambulance cart: This is expected to reduce rate of back injuries • Police vehicle replacement: This is per policy of replacing one vehicle per year. • Police hand-held radios: Each car has three, car, body and hand-held. This is the third and final phase of a three-part upgrade. The car and bod radios have already been replaced. The radio upgrade was state mandated; it will among other things provide inter-operability. • Electronic parking enforcement tool: Scanner for VIN, electronically produces and processes tickets. Productivity improvement expected. • Heavy haul tractor: Used largely for hauling from transfer station. Leasing instead of buying because there is a plan to review DPW including need for this truck. • Dump truck body replacement: This body of the salt truck is rusted out and must be replaced. • Town-wide facilities condition and functional assessment: Consultant services to tag and inventory all town assets • Truck for facilities department: Primarily for facilities, but will have plow so it can also support DPW; this is an aspect of the reorganization reviewed at an earlier meeting. • Treat's Pond: This to implement a plan for the repair of the drainage from Treat's Pond; all abutters have agreed to the necessary easements. • Border St. culvert: An culvert that was inadvertently covered when the seawall was repaired several years ago. Consequently, when the marsh floods water is backing up and eroding the wall. This is to repair that situation. • Digital learning roll-out: This involves acquisition of both table computers and supporting equipment. The plan is to leas the computers instead of paying cash in order to get experience with needs,useful life etc. before committing to purchase. Supporting equipment will be purchased. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes r ;_,;:. , 'fawn of March 31, 2015 '. ,v:. Cohasset Page 3 r`' Massachusetts • Security cameras: This item is for replacement of exterior system covering all buildings,which is old and out-of-date. There is on-going review of proposal for interior cameras other than at entrances. • By-law codification: The Committee recommends funding a consultant and supporting software to codify and do a technical clean-up of the by-law. • Voting machines: This is to replace the current readers. The old machines are 20 years old and starting to cause problems. Also, the state is mandating changes in ballot format that the old machines won't be able to process. • Nan Roth moved to recommend approval of all of these projects; Bob Benson seconded; the motion was approved 7-0. 3. School Committee Budget Barbara Cataldo, Paul Ognibene and David Degennaro reviewed a Powerpoint presentation from school department previously distributed to Committee members. It summarizes the the FY 2016 budget approved by the School Committee, and its underlying assumptions. The budget proposal does not include any direct provision related to the on-going negotiation of employee union contracts to replace those that expire at the end FY 2015. The School Committee and Superintendent expect that any change resulting from the negotiations can be managed within the proposed budget. There was considerable discussion of the on-going upward trend in FTE teachers, and information that could be provided to elucidate the reasons and allay concerns about on- going budget creep. Some of the growth is due to adding employees for special education programs that reduce out-of-district placements and use of contract services. George Chamillard posed question how the Advisory Committee can better focus on the larger question of whether schools are on a sustainable path—taking a 5-year plan point of view. He suggests that this is where Advisory can add value, not details of any given year's budget. Peter pointed to doing that within the budget planning meetings that kick-off the annual cycle in the fall. Nan Roth to recommend approval of the proposed budget for the school department; George Chamillard seconded; the motion was approved 7-0. 4. Adjournment at 9:38 pm Bob Benson moved; Lynda Mooney seconded; the motion was approved 7-0 Advisory Committee Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes f. Town of March 31, 2015 = Cohasset Page 4 Massachusetts Respectfully submitted, John Chapman, Secretary Advisory Committee