Stoneham Board of Selectmen – Minutes of Meeting of July 31, 2007
Chairman George E. Seibold called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Also present were Selectmen John F. DePinto, R. Paul Rotondi, Robert W. Sweeney, Frank A. Vallarelli, Town Administrator David Ragucci, and Town Counsel William H. Solomon.
Pledge of Allegiance
Chamber of Commerce/Donation to Recreation Dept
Mary Ann Sarno, Chairman of the Chamber Retail Committee, said that, because 28 businesses bought banners, they are presenting the Town with a check for $250 for the Recreation Department. Selectman Rotondi moved to accept the donation, seconded by Selectman DePinto. Motion was unanimously voted.
Accept New Common Victualler License/Lefter Spiro d/b/a Stoneham Pizza
Selectman Sweeney moved to take this item out of order, seconded by Selectman DePinto. A roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Rotondi
Selectman Vallarelli
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Sweeney
Chairman Seibold
Motion was unanimously voted.
Selectman Sweeney moved approval of the new Common Victualler License for Lefter Spiro d/b/a Stoneham Pizza, 232 Main St, seconded by Selectman DePinto. A roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Vallarelli
Selectman Rotondi
Chairman Seibold
Motion was unanimously voted.
Stoneham Housing Authority/Trash Fee
Town Administrator Ragucci said the Housing Authority will make a $25,000 payment for the trash fee and next year increase it to $30,000. Selectman DePinto moved to accept this, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Town Counsel Solomon added that it is with the caveat that it is $30,000 next year, unless the trash fee goes up. A roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
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Selectman Rotondi
Selectman Vallarelli
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Sweeney
Chairman Seibold
Motion was unanimously voted.
Library/State Aid Waiver/Mary Todd, Director
Mary Todd explained the Library State Aid Waiver. Town Administrator Ragucci said he will be recommending $705,160, which is $52,000 short. Ms. Todd said then they would not be cut disproportionately. Chairman Seibold told her the Selectmen are all concerned, too. Katherine DiDonato, Library Trustee, said she works at the High School. She said she would like to push for the whole $92,000. Selectman Sweeney responded that they work with what people give them. Chairman Seibold noted that if they didn’t have the trash fee last year, they wouldn’t have Library accreditation. Selectman Rotondi said now the question is how they spend the $1.3 million in a fair and equitable manner. Chairman Seibold said if they don’t get the $1.3 million they voted on, then
property values go down. He said three of them voted with their hearts.
Selectman Sweeney moved to take a recess, seconded by Selectman DePinto. Motion was unanimously voted.
Meeting recessed at 7:44 p.m.
Meeting reconvened at 7:57 p.m.
Budget
Town Administrator Ragucci said the $200 trash fee will free up $1.3 million in tax dollars that they can expend somewhere else. He said they need to reduce the budget voted at Town Meeting. He read as follows: reduce Reserve Fund by $229,930; reduce GIS Dept. by $75,000; reduce Planning Board/Board of Appeals/Conservation by $30,000; reduce Police by $240,000 and allocate $75,000 from freed up trash money to Police to prevent layoff of one police officer; reduce Fire by $240,000 and allocate $75,000 from freed up trash money to Fire Dept. to prevent layoff on one firefighter. He said they are still down three firefighters. He said reduce Schools by $700,000 and allocate $800,000 from freed up trash money; increase Minuteman Voke by $40,000; increase Northeast Regional by $160,070; reduce
Public Works by $210,000 and allocate $122,338 from freed up trash money to be placed in Public Works budget for curbside pickup of leaves and trees, park maintenance, and hazardous waste day.
Dr. Olson, School Superintendent addressed the $800,000 allocated to the Schools. Selectman Rotondi said that in the $800,000 for Schools there is $300,000 for wage
July 31, 2007 – Page (3)
increases. He said that in the Town budget there is no money funded for increases. He asked if the Town employees are second class citizens. Selectman Rotondi said the
Schools prefunded SEEM by $260,000 ahead of time and they are getting an increase because of insurance, another $200,000. He said this tells him that they were originally down $1.5 million, and with the $800,000 they end up $200,000 below their original fully funded budget. He said the Town was down $1.5 million and are getting $500,000. He said the Town is down $1 million and the Schools are down $200,000. He said he doesn’t consider that fair and equitable. Dr. Olson said the School made a reduction in the budget last March for insurance savings. He said they already accounted for that. Selectman Rotondi said that was not said at the March meeting. He said he was deeply involved and it was not in the budget. Dr. Olson said the records he has seen included
the $140,000 savings. Selectman Rotondi said his only argument is on the fairness and equity. Dr. Olson said they voted not to have staff in elementary school libraries, one school nurse position not funded, and two custodian positions will be laid off. Selectman Rotondi said he understands those are drastic cuts. He said he is not questioning the validity of what they need. He said he is questioning the equity of the split. Chairman Maureen Soley said the cost of living has been in their March, April, and June budgets. She said the Finance Board members clearly knew it was there. She said everyone feels very strongly that the $350,000 needs to be there. Selectman Rotondi said he agrees wholeheartedly with everything she said but that the fact remains that if the money is there, the savings from health insurance is up money. Selectman Rotondi said they are asking that each side get $650,000. He said that puts them
$150,000 less than $800,000 and can be made up by those savings. He said they are not being equal because sports is on the table. Cheryl Walsh said it is not about sports, but it will be reported in the paper that they are holding him hostage. Selectman Rotondi said he gives the Schools a lot of credit. He said he is saying that the schools set the priorities correctly. Selectman Sweeney said that every year when the final numbers are in, there is an extra $50,000 to $60,000 expected from insurance. He said he thinks that all departments will be happy with what they are getting, when all is said and done. Selectman DePinto moved to approve this budget as presented by the Town Administrator, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Selectman Rotondi moved to amend the motion so that the estimated $1,312,208 freed up revenue be split $650,000 to the Schools, $125,000 to the Police, $125,000 to Fire, and $90,000 to the Library. Selectman
Sweeney seconded the motion for discussion. Selectman Rotondi said he spent 30 years on the School Committee and every budget was 50-50. Chairman Seibold asked why they can’t take $52,000 out of Capital and give it towards the Library. Selectman Sweeney said they are voting the way they feel it should be distributed. Selectman Rotondi said again that there is money in the School budget for wage increases and no money in the Town’s budget.
Meeting recessed at 9:02 p.m.
Meeting reconvened at 9:09 p.m.
Selectman Rotondi said the School’s budget is 3.5% more than last year, and the Town is less. A roll call vote was taken on the amendment.
July 31, 2007 – Page (4)
Voting in favor:
Selectman Rotondi
Opposed:
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Vallarelli
Chairman Seibold
Voting was 1-4. Motion did not carry.
A roll call vote was taken on the original motion.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Vallarelli
Chairman Seibold
Opposed:
Selectman Rotondi
Voting was 4-1. Motion carried.
Trash Fee Enterprise Fund/Selectman DePinto
Selectman DePinto discussed a need for a trash fee enterprise fund. He said maybe they could do it at the October Town Meeting, if they need it. Town Administrator Ragucci and Town Counsel Solomon said for the record that the trash fee will be used for trash.
Parking Regulations/Selectman DePinto
Town Administrator Ragucci said he and Town Counsel met several times and he would like to convene a businessmen’s round table. He would like to have a Selectman with them. One of the topics is parking issues in the downtown area.
Accept Articles and Sign Warrant
Selectman DePinto moved to accept the four warrant articles, seconded by Selectman Sweeney. Motion was unanimously voted.
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Selectman Sweeney moved that the Board accept Section 19 of Chapter 32B of the General Laws for the purpose of commencing the process whereby an agreement between the Section 19 Public Employee Committee and this Board may be reached which would include the Town entering the Group Insurance Commission health benefit program, and he further moved that the Town Administrator be designated as their representative in
July 31, 2007 – Page (5)
this process with the understanding that any agreement would be subject to ratification by this Board as well as approved by the Public Employee Committee as specified in Section 19. Motion was seconded by Selectman DePinto, and a roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Rotondi
Selectman Vallarelli
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Sweeney
Chairman Seibold
Motion was unanimously voted.
Executive Session
Selectman DePinto moved to go into executive session and not to return as the Board of Selectmen, pursuant to Chapter 39, section 23B, to discuss collective bargaining, Stockwell Trust, and litigation. Motion was seconded, and a roll call vote was taken.
Voting in favor:
Selectman Sweeney
Selectman DePinto
Selectman Rotondi
Selectman Vallarelli
Chairman Seibold
Motion was unanimously voted.
Meeting adjourned at 9:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Muriel Doherty
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