[These meetings are occurring at a rate faster than I can recap them.  In an attempt to not get too far behind, I am offering a more abbreviated summary than usual.  I apologize for any inconvenience.  – S.O'K.]

(5/20/07)  The Select Board met Thursday, May 17th at 7:15 p.m. in the Pole Room at the Bangs Center.  Gerry Weiss, Alisa Brewer, Hwei-Ling Greeney, Rob Kusner and Anne Awad were all present, as was Town Manager Larry Shaffer.

Announcements

Mr. Weiss said that he and Bill Elsasser were arranging for planters with flowers downtown on the east side of South Pleasant Street, thanks to donations from Mr. Elsasser, Andrew's Greenhouse and Whirlwind Garden Designs.  He said that those wishing to make contributions could send checks to him – Mr. Weiss – made out to Andrew's Greenhouse.   He said that if a lot of money gets donated, planters would be added to other streets as well.

Ms. Awad praised the plantings that are around Town Hall and the garage area.  She then said that she had encountered music being played on outside speakers in several areas downtown and said that such an activity needs to be permitted.  Mr. Shaffer said he would look into it.

Community Services Budget – Pools and LSSE

The Select Board picked up their discussion from the previous evening about the Community Services budget.  The early remarks focused on the possibility of opening the War Memorial Pool.  There was talk about the pool bringing in revenue and whether that total could be subtracted from the pool's appropriation amount in budgeting (it cannot,) and how not all of those revenues would be lost if the pool didn't open because much of its swimming lessons and other activities would be switched to the Mill River Pool. 

This led into discussion about whether or not Select Board members were willing to go into Town Meeting exceeding a 1% budget.  Ms. Greeney was vehement that she was not willing to do so, and was also not comfortable continuing the discussion of adding additional money to any elements of the budget without first determining how to erase the $24,000 deficit they had thus far created with their recommendations from Monday's meeting.  She was particularly concerned about members' stated intentions to add more to human service funding without having identified a source to cover that cost.  She said that she was inclined to not treat each department equally with only a 1% increase, and reiterated her desire to cut one-third of LSSE's funding as the first part of a three-year plan to phase out its tax support, and instead spend that money on the schools.

Ms. Awad said that was too drastic a cut to make to LSSE.  She said she would like to have the cluster of Bangs Center programs re-examined, including LSSE, the Senior Center, the Health Department and so forth, and see where they might share services for efficiency.  She suggested a shared pool of clerical staff and a central reception area, like the Central Services desk at Town Hall, that would welcome, direct and assist people and provide better security for the building.  She said that perhaps some of the reason that staff is stressed in many departments is because the same things that have always been done are still being done without updating or prioritizing them for today's circumstances.  She also suggested LSSE do an assessment of its programs with an expectation of finding efficiencies for next year.

There was much discussion about the complexities of LSSE from Mr. Musante and Mr. Shaffer:  how user fees cover about 80% of its cost; how some of its programs subsidize others; how the programs have different kinds of social value in providing important skills and important opportunities to low-income people who wouldn't otherwise have access to such; how raising the prices of programs would necessitate more money for subsidies; how getting too close to the rates charged in the private sector could funnel off families who pay full-fee for LSSE programs, hence losing their much-needed subsidy of families who don't; how it is not realistic to make such a drastic cut or reorganization this year; and how the question of the practicality and desirability of eliminating its tax support should be considered before simply doing so. 

Mr. Shaffer said that the decision to fund or not fund the War Memorial Pool was similarly complex in how it relates to other funding decisions.  He said that because the pool's season spans two budget years, it makes things more complicated.  He said he wouldn't want to spend the money it takes to get the pool open if it will not be able to remain open, and said that currently there are no plans to open it and all efforts are focused on maximizing the efficiency of one pool.  He said that if LSSE funding were greatly reduced and Town Meeting voted to appropriate money for the pool, he and the recreation and LSSE people would have to determine if there were greater benefit to opening the pool or concentrating on the one pool and using that money to greater effect for another program.

Ms. Greeney reiterated her desire for the one-third budget cut, but with amended figures, and reaffirmed her support for a three year phase-out, which she tied to the projected budget shortfalls in the next two years and her hope that in FY11, the bad period will be over and normal operations will resume.  Mr. Kusner thought that as an artificial time period to use.  Ms. Awad and Mr. Weiss repeated their concerns that Ms. Greeney's proposed cut was too drastic and that small fee increases might be possible.  Ms. Brewer said that the community needs to decide what its goals are for the LSSE program, and said that if the department is expected to function on the model of a business, it would need time to make that transition because that has not been the expectation.

Ms. Brewer asked what the plans are for public availability of the Middle School pool.  Mr. Shaffer said he has been having discussions about this for several months with the Superintendent and they haven't agreed on fair compensation for its use.  He said the Superintendent will not allow LSSE use unless and until they have such an agreement.

Vince O'Connor spoke of the various consequences of not opening the War Memorial pool and losing access to the Middle School pool, and said that both would increase the risks of unskilled swimmers at Puffer's Pond.  He said that if there were a tragic accident at Puffer's Pond, it would be in the Select Board's lap, not the Finance Committee's, and said he hoped that the appointed Finance Committee would have enough respect for the electoral process as to defer to the elected Select Board's budget recommendations, if they meet the 1% guideline.

There was much discussion about the use of reserves.  Mr. Weiss was willing to do so, Ms. Awad was not.  Finance Committee members spoke of such a decision being a significant departure from past policy, and said it should first be vetted by other boards and committees with a stake in the reserves, and said it was a dangerous perpetuation of the structural deficit. 

There was more talk about not opening War Memorial pool and the impact on Mill River pool:  how hours would be extended and recreational swimming time curtailed to accommodate the maximum amount of swimming lessons, how some had concerns it might be overcrowded and incur more staff costs with additional hours, and how some groups and individuals who walked to War Memorial would need to be transported to Mill River.  Mr. Shaffer said he could not be dogmatic about keeping the pool open and said that the money for that might need to go toward funding another important program.

Mr. Kusner talked about the necessity of learning to swim at an early age and said that learning the pleasures and perils of the water is one of the things that make us human.  He moved to reduce LSSE funds by $50,000, which was a reduction of about $100,000 from Ms. Greeney's proposed cut. That would cover the $24,000 that the Select Board's previous recommendations had put them into the red so far, and provided $26,000 to put toward other uses.  He noted that they had voted unanimously on Monday night to support the pools, and that those costs were part of their current recommendations.

Linda Chalfant, LSSE Director, elaborated more on the complexities of those programs and how the profits of one pay the subsidies of another, and the challenges of finding the optimal fee point that brings in maximum profits without sending full-fare payers off to private programs and losing their subsidy of low-income participants.  She said they are undertaking a thorough review of all their programs, but it isn't done yet. 

Ms. Awad said she thought the proposed cut of $50,000 was too severe and said that perhaps Ms. Chalfant's program review and a full review of Bangs Center programs could yield another $25,000 in reductions for FY09. 

Mr. Weiss asked if it was really so bad to use $31,000 in reserves to pay for operating expenses, noting that it would not be for staff whose costs he said increased each year.  He said that a $24,000 cut to LSSE and $31,000 in reserves could pay for everything the Select Board wants.

Ms. Greeney said her proposal was a policy decision, not a value judgment.  She said it addresses the question of whether the Town wants to have such a comprehensive LSSE program or not, and that she thinks the program is too big and some of its money could be better used in other parts of the budget.

Ms. Brewer said that a program and policy assessment for LSSE would be beneficial but couldn't happen for the FY08 budget.  She said she was no longer confident in her Monday vote to support the pools, and said she was persuaded by Mr. Shaffer's explanation of needing to prioritize that money among other recreational needs and with the plan to maximize use of the Mill River pool.  She said a 1% budget is supposed to be tough and she doesn't support using reserves.

After more discussion about how important swimming is and what a big change closing one pool would be, the vote on the motion to cut $50,000 from the LSSE budget was one in favor, four opposed, with Mr. Kusner voting in favor.

Mr. Weiss immediately made a new motion to cut $24,000 from the LSSE budget, and they came to an immediate vote.  It passed with three voting in favor, two voting to oppose, and Ms. Brewer and Ms. Greeney voted to oppose.

Community Services – Human Services Funding

Ms. Greeney recused herself and left the room as the human service agency funding was discussed.

Mr. Weiss moved to increase the human services funding amount in the Shaffer budget by $31,000.  He said that was a reduction of more than 40% from last year and that it was worth taking that money from reserves in order to keep important services alive. 

Ms. Awad said she doesn't want to reduce the commitment to human services but can't support taking the money from reserves.  

There was much discussion about the implications of taking from reserves, and whether or not they were significant at that level.

Andrew Melnechuk brought up the golf course and suggested a reduction there could be a source of funds instead of using reserves.

Mr. Shaffer said that the golf course situation is a zero-sum game and said that it can either be funded or not, but that any cut to its operating expenses represented a reduction to the revenue it would bring in.  He said he wanted the golf course issue taken off the table, and said that some in town were hiding behind it as though it were the cause of the Town's financial problems.  He called it a “straw man,” said it has “zero effect,” and said that it has taken on scale and significance it doesn't deserve. 

There was talk of other places to find $31,000, and consideration of ambulance fund fees or perhaps not funding the fifth firefighter position.  Mr. Shaffer said that if he were asked to take $31,000 from the fire budget, he wouldn't do so by eliminating personnel, but that within its $4.6 million dollars, such a cut could absorbed in other areas.  He said the fire budget had come through the budget process unscathed while the police budget had taken a big hit, and said that he needed some balance there, and had two equally important Chiefs to satisfy. 

The vote to add $31,000 to the human services funding was three in favor, one opposed, with Ms. Brewer voting to oppose.  Ms. Greeney had recused herself from the discussion and the vote.

There was discussion about the new state of Veteran's services and potential savings there in the future by combining efforts with other towns, and talk about the inherent confusion of having both a budget category and a line item called “community services.”  During this time, Ms. Greeney returned.

The new bottom line number for Community Services was $1,721,604, and the vote to approve that was four in favor, one opposed, with Ms. Greeney voting to oppose. 

They then re-voted the Fire and EMS line and the new Public Safety bottom line in order to account for the $31,000 change.  Those votes were unanimous. 

Finance Committee Chair Alice Carlozzi said that that group had discussed how it would consider budget amendments from the floor of Town Meeting, and had developed five principles:  1) to maintain a 1% budget; 2) that any recommendations beyond the 1% resources be made contingent appropriations, requiring funding from an override, which she said the Finance Committee did not recommend; 3) that there be no use of reserves; 4) that the Reserve Fund be maintained at $100,000; 5) that only reasonably estimable revenues be considered, i.e., no assumptions that new funds would come from the State or the colleges.

There was much discussion of how these principles would be interpreted, the details of contingent appropriations and overrides, and speculation about placeholder money for collective bargaining and how to fund those results if the placeholder funds are inadequate.

Library Services

The issue of how to account for $19,000 the library receives in overdue fees was discussed at length.  It was noted that those fees currently go to the general fund; that a revolving fund could be set up at a future Annual Town Meeting to let the library manage those funds; that revolving funds could be set up for all kinds of fees and that that system soon becomes impractical; that if the libraries are allotted their fee money, it would decrease their regular allotment by the same amount for no net gain.

Arguments in favor of the library getting those funds included:  that they had expected them this budget year; that they would lose the incentive to collect fees if they weren't getting the money; that they are a separate arm of the Town government and should be able to independently manage that money. 

Mr. Kusner moved to recommend $2,097,199 for the library budget with $1,480,162 appropriated from taxation, an amount that includes the $19,000 in fee money. 

It was noted that State aid and endowment money are not part of the appropriation, which is why there are two numbers.  It was also noted that this proposal puts general government in the red by $19,000. 

After discussion about whether or not the Select Board should find a way to make up that difference or leave it to Town Meeting to do so, and whether it might be made contingent on an override vote which itself would cost $14,000 to hold, that issue was not resolved and the Select Board voted four in favor, one opposed to support the recommendation, with Ms. Brewer voting to oppose.

Enterprise and Reserve Funds

The Select Board voted unanimously to support the Finance Committee recommendations for the Transportation, Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Enterprise Funds, as well as the $100,000 Reserve Fund. 

Special Town Meeting Warrant for June 6th

Articles 1 and 2

This warrant for this Special Town Meeting is to be signed at the meeting on Monday, May 21st.  Mr. Kusner would not be present for that meeting and was concerned about the language of the first two articles, and finding a way to address Town Counsel's concerns that the articles were not valid as written.  The specifics of the articles were never mentioned, but they appeared to involve allowing the Select Board to borrow money that will be then be paid back by a State grant.  There was significant disagreement on whether the specific amount of the borrowing had to be referenced in the article, as was the Town Counsel's opinion, and which was supported by Mr. Shaffer and Mr. Musante, or if these articles represented a different kind of borrowing circumstance which didn't require that specificity, as was contended by Mr. Kusner and Mr. O'Connor.  There was considerable discussion about the process involved in such actions, and whether or not there were significant financial risks.

Mr. Weiss said he wasn't willing to go against Town Counsel's opinion on the matter and Mr. Shaffer said he would follow up with Town Counsel on Mr. Kusner's request that an amendment of some kind could be made to the motion to make it comport with the law.

Article 3 – FY07 Budget Amendments

Mr. Musante said this article is the re-working of Article 15 from the Annual Town Meeting warrant, and involves amendments to the FY07 budget to allow transfers of sums among departments to close out projected shortfalls and excess revenues.  He said that these figures were still being dealt with and that he would return with a recommendation closer to June 6th.

Article 4 – Cherry Hill Privatization

There was discussion about whether Town Counsel had vetted the language of the article, and how because it is a petition article, that doesn't need to happen, but does affect the position the Select Board will take on it. 

Mr. Shaffer said that the Moderator had determined that the article was legitimate, and Town Counsel had determined that it does not affect the fact that use of Town-owned property is the Town Manager's prerogative. 

There was discussion about whether or not petitioners in general could seek opinions about their articles from Town Counsel.  Mr. Shaffer noted that they would have to go though the Town Manager to do so, and that Town Counsel represents the Town's interests, so in some cases petitioners might be better off seeking their own legal opinion.  Ms. Greeney noted that the Town Meeting Coordinating Committee had prepared guidelines for petitioners to use to try to ensure the soundness of their proposed articles. 

No action was taken on this article.

The meeting adjourned at 10:52 p.m.  The next Select Board meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on May 21st in the Middle School music room before Town Meeting.  Mr. Weiss noted that he intended to schedule the Wednesday, May 23rd meeting to begin at 6:00 p.m.

-- Stephanie O'Keeffe