Board of Aldermen |
Appropriations Committee Meeting Minutes |
Monday, 28 January 2008 |
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Appropriations Committee |
Chairman Brodeur, Boisselle,
Mortimer, Infurna, Tramontozzi, Forbes, Wright, Seaboyer, Medeiros, Conn
Absent: McAteer-Margolis In attendance: Mayor Dolan; Fire Chief John O'Brien; City Auditor/CFO Patrick Dello Russo; Human Resources Director Marianne Long; Health Director Ruth Clay
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Appropriations called to order by Chairman Brodeur at 8:25 p.m. Order No. 08-119, APPOINTMENT OF: Sally Stubbs, 111 Warwick Road TO: Human Rights Commission Expiration: first Monday in February, 2011 Mayor Dolan says he doesn't need to introduce Sally Stubbs to the Aldermen. She has been very involved in the community in many capacities over the years including the League of Women Voters and the High School PTO. Her entire family is committed to the City of Melrose. Ms. Stubbs says she has been a resident of Melrose for 22 years. Her passion is the League, but as an empty nester she is ready to step up to the Human Rights Commission. She says she and her husband George have supported the Commission for many years. Alderman Tramontozzi thanks Ms. Stubbs and her family for having such active roles in the City. Alderman Boisselle moves to recommend, 2nd by Alderman Mortimer. All in favor. Order No. 08-120, REAPPOINTMENT OF: Mohamed Bachiri, 14 Norman Rd. TO: Human Rights Commission Expiration: first Monday in February, 2011 Chairman Brodeur says that Mr. Bachiri is term-limited under the City's ordinances which allows only two terms. Alderman Infurna motions to give the matter Leave to Withdraw, 2nd by Alderman Mortimer. Alderman Infurna says she wants to publicly thank Mr. Bachiri for the great work he has done for the City and the Human Rights Commission. On the motion to give the matter Leave to Withdraw, All in favor. Order No. 08-121, REAPPOINTMENT OF: Rabbi Mark Golub, 15 Howard St. TO: Human Rights Commission Expiration: first Monday in February, 2011 Chairman Brodeur says that Rabbi Golub is unable to attend tonight's meeting but has indicated that he would be delighted to serve another term on the Commission. Alderman Mortimer moves to recommend, 2nd by Alderman Medeiros. All in favor. Order No. 08-109, APPROPRIATION Amount: $40,000.00 From: Available Free Cash To: A/C #012211-531000, Fire – Overtime. This funding is necessary to fill temporary vacancies due to firefighters at the academy and serving in the military. Fire Chief John O'Brien says he has been working with the Auditor with the overtime funding and they break it down into 90 day costs. He currently has two firefighters serving in Iraq and two attending fire academy who will be coming up March 31. He says the department should be in good shape in April. Alderman Seaboyer asks City Auditor Patrick Dello Russo how much free cash will be left in the account if this $40,000 is approved. Mr. Dello Russo says $851,000 will remain. Alderman Forbes asks if the men serving in Iraq are covered strictly under the military's health insurance or if the City provides any benefits to them. Human Resources Director Marianne Long says the City pays the difference in cost for the first six months of service. As City employees they are entitled to stay on the City's health insurance plan at the end of six months under COBRA. At that time they are on unpaid leave. They are eligible to return to the same position they had before being called to duty. Alderman Conn asks Mr. Dello Russo if there was $320,000 allocated to the fire department overtime in FY2008. Mr. Dello Russo says it was $150,000. Alderman Conn asks if this $40,000 will take the department to March or April. Mr. Dello Russo says he hopes the next 90 days will be covered. Alderman Conn asks Chief O'Brien if he expects he will have to come back for further appropriation at least one more time. Chief O'Brien says he came in October for $45,000 and at that time he thought he would have to come back in December, but he is just coming before them now, at the end of January. He says he does plan on coming back one more time though. Alderman Conn asks if the salary of the two firefighters deployed to Iraq been exhausted. Chief O'Brien says no. Alderman Conn asks if he has money in the salary line that may be transferred. Mr. Dello Russo says he doesn't think so; the salary line-item is very thin. Alderman Conn asks what the overtime budget will be for next year. Mr. Dello Russo says the same as this year; $150,000. Alderman Mortimer moves to recommend, 2nd by Alderman Boisselle. All in favor. Order No. 08-112, TRANSFER Amount: $7,500.00 From: A/C #019122-543102 – Worker’s Comp, Benefits To: A/C #015112-529000 – Health, Professional Services. This will pay for a remediation plan for hazardous materials found on city-owned land between Swains Pond Ave. and Leah St. Health Director Ruth Clay says this is a supplement to the $20,000 that was appropriated last year. She says this is a three phase project resulting from the discovery that land adjoining a paper road, Hickory Street, was found to be contaminated as well as city-owned conservation land. The first phase was to test the abutting properties and find out what types of contaminants are there. This second phase will develop a remediation plan. The last phase will be the remediation itself. The City has a statutory obligation to submit a report to the DEP and has hired CDM to do that. Alderman Boisselle asks who will do the plan. Ms. Clay says CDM. Alderman Boisselle asks what type of remediation has already taken place. Ms. Clay says contaminated soil was removed and taken off-site. Alderman Boisselle asks if the same thing will happen with Hickory Street. Ms. Clay says that remains to be seen. Alderman Forbes asks if the contamination was leached or dumped. Ms. Clay says the land was an unofficial public dump at the turn of the century. Alderman Forbes asks if it has always been city-owned land. Ms. Clay says yes, that there has never been a business there. Alderman Seaboyer asks if the Worker's Comp benefits line-item is drained down pretty much. Ms. Long says a long-term recipient of Worker's Comp passed away in September. That claim cost $26,000 per year. The Worker's Comp orders before the board total $17,000. Alderman Mortimer moves to recommend, 2nd by Alderman Boisselle. All in favor. Order No. 08-118, GRANT Amount $340,000.00 From: Renewable Energy Trust Fund awarded by the Mass. Technology Collaborative (MTC) To: Fund # 2860 MTC Renewable Energy Trust as set forth herein. Mayor Dolan says he is happy to announce this grant and seeks the Board of Aldermen's approval. The Planning Office put forward a grant and Melrose is one of the few communities to receive this award. No match is required. The unveiling of the solar panels is scheduled for May. A 10% savings in utility costs is anticipated and they will serve as an educational tool. He says Melrose has had excellent success with MTC; Melrose is one of ten communities to be awarded solar trash barrels, the first of which will be installed at the Commons. Alderman Medeiros asks what a solar trash barrel is. Mayor Dolan says it's a big belly trash barrel that compacts the trash so the DPW has to empty them less often. The City received two of them, valued at $10,000 each. Alderman Forbes asks if any thought has been given to expanding the solar panels to the High School. Mayor Dolan says there has been discussion about white roofing at the High School, which captures the sun's heat during the winter months. The Energy Committee has sent a letter with the tax bills encouraging people to sign up with National Grid's alternative energy program. A portion of residential energy bills are put into a special fund. Melrose has almost $30,000 in its account. Alderman Boisselle asks if the panels at the Middle School will be hooked into National Grid once they are installed. Mayor Dolan says he can't answer that but there will be a demonstration at a later date. Alderman Boisselle the City could sell some of the energy back to National Grid during the hot summer months. Alderman Medeiros asks if the panels will aid in cooling the building as well as heating the building. Mayor Dolan says no. Alderman Mortimer moves to recommend, 2nd by Alderman Boisselle. All in favor. Alderman Mortimer motions to adjourn, 2nd by Alderman Infurna. All in favor. Appropriations adjourns at 9:00 p.m. Maribeth Harrington
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