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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - AC - 03/01/2018 COHASSET ADVISORY COMMITTEE Regular Meeting Thursday, i March 2oi8 Cohasset Town Hall John Chapman,Chair,called the Cohasset Advisory Committee meeting to order at 7:05 PM Attending: Tanya Bodell,Paul Carlson,John Chapman,Michael Dick,Leland Jenkins,Helene Lieb (joined at 7:15 pm),Nancy A Roth Not Present: Richard Fitzpatrick,Ralph Tulio Presentations by Chris Senior,Town Manager 1) Tanya Bodell moved and Nan Roth seconded, that the Advisory Committee go into Executive Session to discuss the status of the Towri s 2018 union contract negotiations passed 6-0 (H Lieb,not present for the vote,joined the meeting at 7:15 pm) Chris Senior,voting member on the Town Negotiating Committee,provided a status update. Three negotiations underway: Firefighters,Facilities, and DPW. Town will also negotiate a new contract with School units:teachers,custodial, admin/secretarial, cafeteria workers. Tanya Bodell moved,Nan Roth seconded,that the Advisory Committee leave Executive Session and return to the public agenda.Passed 7-0. Confidential, detailed minutes for the Executive Session are attached to these minutes. 2) Minutes of 8 Feb 2018 approved 6-0-1 (Bodell abstained as she wasn't present at thee meeting.) Minutes of 15 February 2018 will be reviewed and voted on at the next Advisory Committee meeting on 8 March 2018. 3) Town Budget FY 2019-General Administration Discussion • Police Dep't will seek to add one hire in an open position to cover multiple CPD absences • Elder Affairs transferred one-part time position with no benefits from a grant funded position to the Town payroll • Chief Technology Officer budget will consolidate different technology spending needs into a single departmental request • Town Manager will seek to increase budget to cover union negotiations and non- union employee raises • Assessors' budget should decrease due to staff leaving replaced with less new hires at lower starting salaries • Treasurer-Collector budget is stable • Town Clerk's office will seek added funds for a third,backup voting machine, for re-programming voting machines,and to pay for more elections in 2018 • QUESTIONS Nan Roth:how secure is data transmission from the Town to the Secretary of State's office?ANSWER-Unknown Notes by Michael Dick 3/17/2ol8 Page 1 of 3 COHASSET ADVISORY COMMITTEE Regular Meeting Thursday, i March 2oi8 Cohasset Town Hall Lee Jenkins: Has the Treasurer-Collector's Office realized any cost savings following computerization?Are four people the right staffing level? Mike Dick: have we gained efficiency with technology and management reorganizations to the point where the Town can reduce staffing levels? ANSWER-Chris Senior,Town Manager,is trying to find the sweet spot for balancing staff to the work demands. The Towri s work force has been flat over the past ten years 4) Town By-Laws,Codification Update by Chris Senior The project cleans up of old, obsolete wording and language and brings three sets of By- Laws together in one document. General By-Laws,Zoning By-Laws, and Planning (Sub- Division) By-Laws. There are no changes to any content. The codified By-Laws will be organized with additional numbering to make for a clearer reference document Chris Senior is working with Carol St. Pierre,Town Clerk, and Town Counsel to draft the Warrant articles for the By-Law Codification. Chris will provide the full draft revision to the Advisory Committee by 15 March 2018. QUESTION-Paul Carlson: is the Town By-Law Committee involved?ANSWER-No 5) 2018 Annual Town Meeting General Warrant-Discussion with Chris Senior The Warrant is not ready for draft publication yet. Chris asked Town Counsel if the Town must vote annually to approve four administrative articles of if the Town can convert them to permanent approvals.Waiting for an answer from Town Counsel. Chris reported that the Town Counsel's law firm is breaking up that will bring changes to the Towns legal representation. The Town is using several different law firms to advise on different, specific issues;e.g. land use,union negotiations,financial and budget items,converting annual administrative approvals to permanent approvals, recodification of the By-Laws, Citizens' Petitions,Massachusetts Marijuana Laws,Town Hall Construction and Renovations,South Shore Vocational Technical School question, Town Speed Limits. 6) Advisory Committee,Meeting Calendar,March 2018 • Tuesday,3/6/18 -Joint meeting with Select Board and Water Dept and Sewer Dept to review their budgets • Thursday,3/8/18 -Town-wide Marijuana Forum and presentation at Wilcutt Commons. Advisory Committee will attend with the Community and then move into its own meeting to discuss the Marijuana 2018 Town Meeting Warrant Articles • Wednesday,3/7/18 -Planning Board public hearing for their three articles • Tuesday,3/13/18 -Joint meeting with Select Board and School Committee to discuss their budget • Thursday,315/18 -Town Hall Building Committee to discuss their project Notes by Michael Dick 3/17/2ol8 Page 2 of 3 COHASSET ADVISORY COMMITTEE Regular Meeting Thursday, i March 2oi8 Cohasset Town Hall Chris Senior noted that • joint meetings with the Select Board will be co-chaired by Select Board and Advisory Committee Chairs to make for a balanced,co-operative review by both groups • he expects no controversy with the School Committee budget. That budget is still under discussion • Water Dep't reports that major construction of a water main loop in the east and south sections of Cohasset is nearing completion • The Town will ask for$100K to contribute to a regional sewer solution study and Environmental Impact Analysis in conjunction with the Towns of Scituate and Hull QUESTION-Paul Carlson: What is the benefit to Cohasset?ANSWER-Sewering areas in Scituate that adversely impact Cohasset's Harbor water quality. MOTION TO ADJOURN: Passed,7-0,at 9:15 PM Notes by Michael Dick 3/17/2ol8 Page 3 of 3